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PLANET RUGBY:ALL OF the Irish-based South African players made it on to the pitch on Saturday. Ulster’s BJ Botha started the game in the front row, while Leinster prop CJ Van der Linde came off the bench into the game. Munster’s new signing, Jean de Villiers, who believed that his international career was over having left South Africa to play his club rugby, came on to face some of his team mates in the last quarter.

At one point in the match South Africa had more Ulster players on their side than Ireland did after Stephen Ferris and Paddy Wallace both departed as injury casualties.