South Africa, as a team, must enforced themselves on their New Zealand rivals if they want to avoid a Tri-Nations whitewash.
In a warm-up match before the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, Japan play the USA Eagles at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo.
Ireland are preparing for a full-blooded encounter with France here Saturday as the two Six Nations heavyweights collide at Lansdowne Road with players from both sides vying for places at the World Cup.
New Zealand coach Graham Henry has rubbished claims from the South Africa camp that performance is more important than the result on Saturday.
Scotland skipper Alastair Kellock insists he is not thinking about the possibility of captaining his country at the World Cup ahead of Saturday's final warm-up against Italy at Murrayfield.
Boland Cavaliers can close the gap between them and the EP Kings at the top of the provincial First Division log if they can score a bonus point victory over the SWD Eagles in Wellington on Friday afternoon.
New Zealand has lifted a ban preventing a Fijian player from attending this year's World Cup after he resigned from the Pacific nation's military, Foreign Minister Murray McCully.
What's it going to be this time? Will it be a dulling mixture of déjà vu, same old same old and seen it all before? Will we again have to find some solace in self-deluding victories that do not involve the scoring of points? Or will we suddenly come alive to an 80-minute performance of sharp, controlled, creative rugby that will remind the All Blacks that they are not the biggest catfish in the sea.
Scotland number eight Richie Vernon hopes to run Italy ragged in Saturday's EMC Test at Murrayfield to earn his Rugby World Cup place.
Radike Samo admitted he gave up on his dream of ever playing at a World Cup until a phone call from Robbie Deans reignited his belief.
The shock over Rocky Elsom losing the Wallabies captaincy was not so much his dumping but its timing just weeks out from the World Cup, Australian newspapers said on Friday.
Former Wallabies hooker Michael Foley has been appointed head coach of the New South Wales Waratahs for the next three Super Rugby seasons.
Like most aspects of life, the world of rugby is played out on twitter. Check out USA scrumhalf Tim Usasz talk on Eagles RWC squad, John Smit 'finally feeling himself, and more from What the Tweet!
Hoërskool Punt of Mossel Bay go up from the sea over the Robertson Pass the 90km to Oudtshoorn for their FNB Classic Clash against Langenhoven Gimnasium, both strong rugby schools in South Western Districts.
Former Irish international John Robbie said on Thursday that South Africa were in the fortunate position to have many loose forwards who could take over from the injured Juan Smith.
