The 34-year-old ended his Test career against the Wallabies in Cardiff last December. He then signed a contract extension with his club Ospreys until the end of the 2013 season, but both parties have agreed to release the veteran from the deal a year early.

Ospreys have announced that Williams will then take up an ambassadorial role at the club, where he ‘will promote rugby in and around the region whilst also working in conjunction with the Ospreys’ existing and future commercial partners’.

Former Bulls and junior Springbok centre Stefan Watermeyer made a surprise exit at the Pretoria-based union in December to join Welsh club Ospreys on a short-term deal. With the recent retirement of Jaco Pretorius and release of Stephan Dippenaar, there was an opportunity for Watermeyer to compete with Wynand Olivier, Francois Venter and star signing Johann Sadie for a midfield berth. And considering the lengthy Super Rugby campaign, there would’ve been opportunities for the player who had represented the Bulls since U16 level.

However, the 23-year-old admitted that he always had the desire to feature in a foreign league, saying: ‘It’s a big move for me, but it’s something I’ve always wanted to do – to go and play overseas. There’s a lot of good players here [at Ospreys] with international exposure, who I’m looking forward to training with and trying to learn from.

‘I’m here initially until the end of the season but I want to do enough to show the coaches that I can be an Ospreys player for a lot longer.’

Centre Stefan Watermeyer on debut for Ospreys

A month and a half after the transfer announcement, Watermeyer made his senior debut for the club in the LV Cup, where he started in a 26-21 bonus-point victory over local rivals Newport Gwent Dragons in Bridgend. The No 12 scored a try and received the Man of the Match award for an outstanding all-round performance in front of a 6000-strong home crowd. Ospreys also started Krugersdorp-born wing Hanno Dirksen, who scored a 15th-minute try. It was Ospreys’ first win of the competition, following two earlier defeats.

In other LV Cup results, skipper and flanker Francois Louw and scrumhalf Michael Claassens helped Bath to a 46-14 drubbing of reserve prop Brian Mujati’s Northampton Saints. Despite showing poor form in the European Cup and the English Premiership, Bath are one of two undefeated teams in the competition with three bonus-point wins.

Saracens rested most of their nine Saffas as they fielded a second string side in their 41-14 win over reserve fullback Errie Claassens’ Worcester Warriors. Tighthead prop Petrus du Plessis, loosehead prop John Smit and flanker Justin Melck started for the Watford club, with Melck scoring one of four tries.

In terms of management, former Springbok assistant coach Gary Gold started his director of rugby tenure at Newcastle Falcons with a 37-7 win over flanker Hendre Fourie’s Sale Sharks. Lock Adriaan Fondse and centre Corne Uys started for the victors.

In the French Top 14, centre Paul Bosch scored the decisive try in Montpellier’s 38-6 home win over Stade Francais. Lock Drikus Hancke was in the hosts’s run-on side while second rower Gerhard Mostert received a yellow card during his appearance for the visitors. Montepellier now hold a play-off place in the standings.

Loosehead prop Gurthro Steenkamp had a strong scrumming performance in Toulouse’s 19-13 win over outside centre Frans Steyn and No 8 Jacques Cronje’s Racing Metro. Reserve prop Daan Human came on for the defending champions in the 58th minute while in-form No 8 Shaun Sowerby started.

Captain and No 8 Joe van Niekerk led Toulon to a 50-10 thrashing of outside centre Sam Gerber’s 14-man Bayonne, who now drop to the foot of the table. Scrumhalf Rory Kockott kicked a crucial penalty in Castres’ 29-23 home win over Biarritz.

Fullback Scott Spedding scored a try in lock Retief Uys, No 8 Antonie Claassen and reserve flyhalf Riaan Swanepoel’s Brive’s 17-9 win over lock Gerrie Britz and reserve wing Rudi Coetzee’s Perpignan.

Scrumhalf Ricky Januarie started in Lyon’s vital 19-11 win over tighthead prop Gert Muller, lock Dewald Senekal and No 8 Adri Badenhorst’s Agen. The former Bok and Stormers No 9 was replaced by former Cheetahs halfback Tewis de Bruyn late in the second half.

A brilliant chip by flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc fell well for Bosch, who showed great strength and determination to break the final tackle and score. Bosch struck on the hour to take the game away from Stade Francais, who had shown signs of coming back via the boot of scrumhalf Julien Dupuy.

From there, another deft kick by Trinh-Duc created a further try for Timoci Nagusa while Martin Bustos Moyano collected his second right on full-time to secure the bonus point.

The result has allowed Montpellier to climb the Top 14 ladder as far as fifth position.

Munster have started their Pro 12 title defence on a disappointing note. They currently lie third on the tournament table, with only eight wins from their 13 fixtures to date as they trail current leaders and Irish rivals Leinster – who they beat in last season’s final – by 10 log points.

However, Munster will be delighted with their European Cup campaign as they finished the group stages as the only undefeated club in the competition. South African props Wian du Preez and BJ Botha have been a major influence up front as they’ve started in all six wins – the latest a 51-36 drubbing of Brian Mujati’s Northampton Saints at Milton Keynes on Saturday.

Munster props BJ Botha and Wian du Preez

Du Preez, who signed for Munster from the Cheetahs in 2010 after an impressive 2009 loan spell, and Botha, who joined the club from Ulster following a poor run of injuries last season, were powerful around the park as they contributed largely at the breakdowns and on defence. Normally strong in the scrums, they didn’t have a great start at the set-piece as they were dominated in the first half, but they were able to rectify their front row woes after the break and were more solid thereafter.

Botha was an effective ball carrier and he forced his way over the whitewash from close range in the 30th minute. It was an important try as it staged a first-half comeback as Northampton led 13-3 in the first quarter.

Munster will now host Ulster at Thomond Park in their quarter-final tie on 7 April.

In other weekend results, Saffa-laden Saracens will face Clermont at home in the next round as they beat flanker Bian Vermaak, scrumhalf Tobie Botes and lock Corniel van Zyl’s Treviso 26-20 to top Pool 5. SA-born prop Matt Stevens, hooker John Smit, lock Mouritz Botha and inside centre Brad Barritt started for the English defending champions before flanker Justin Melck featured off the bench. Botha was the standout forward as he made 10 tackles, won three line-out feeds and scored an important try in the first half while Barritt was outstanding on defence with 12 tackles (the most in the match) and gained 56m from six ball carries.

Scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar continued his fine form with the boot as he slotted five penalties for lock Johann Muller, fullback Stefan Terblanche and No 8 Pedrie Wannenburg’s Ulster, but they still lost 19-15 to flanker Gerhard Vosloo and reserve prop Daniel Kotze’s Clermont at the Stade Marcel Michelin.

SA-bound Frans Steyn started at outside centre for Racing Metro, who also had lock Francois van der Merwe and No 8 Jacques Cronje in their match squad. Steyn kicked two penalties, including a 50m shot, but it couldn’t help his side as they went down 36-30 against Cardiff Blues.

Hooker Richardt Strauss and reserve prop Heinke van der Merwe featured in Leinster’s 25-3 win over Montpellier while scrumhalf Rory Kockott’s two penalties couldn’t help Castres as they were edged 16-13 at home by Scarlets.

EUROPEAN CUP QUARTER-FINALS
Munster vs Ulster
Leinster vs Cardiff Blues
Edinburgh vs Toulouse
Saracens vs Clermont Auvergne

England kicked off their Six Nations preparations this week as interim coach Stuart Lancaster’s 36-man training squad gathered in Leeds on Monday. Several key players are struggling with injury at the moment, including flanker Tom Wood, centre Manu Tuilagi, flyhalf Toby Flood and locks Courtney Lawes and Louis Deacon. Reports from the UK suggest Durban-born Barritt is now set to feature in the midfield when England tackle Scotland at Murrayfield on 4 February.

This is the 25-year-old Durban-born centre’s second England call-up, but he’s yet to make his Test debut. He only featured in a tour match against the NZ Maori in 2010. Barritt has been impressive for his club Saracens in their domestic and European Cup campaigns, and is considered as the in-form centre in England.

Other South African-born players in the squad include lock Mouritz Botha and prop Matt Stevens.

Meanwhile, Gloucester loose forward Luke Narraway will also be in Leeds as injury cover for Wood (foot). Deacon will not join the national squad as he remains in Leicester to receive the necessary medical treatment.

England training squad:

Forwards – Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby), Mouritz Botha (Saracens), Calum Clark (Northampton Saints), Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers), Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Lee Mears (Bath Rugby), Ben Morgan (Scarlets), Luke Narraway (Gloucester Rugby), Tom Palmer (Stade Francais), Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Matt Stevens (Saracens), Rob Webber (London Wasps), David Wilson (Bath Rugby), Tom Wood (Northampton Saints).

Backs – Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers), Ben Foden (Northampton Saints), Alex Goode (Saracens), Charlie Hodgson (Saracens), Joe Simpson (London Wasps), Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby), David Strettle (Saracens), Henry Trinder (Gloucester Rugby), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).

After trailing 17-13 against the Italians at half-time, the English Premiership defending champions secured the win with a try via wing David Strettle and the boot of centre Owen Farrell who slotted a conversion and two penalties in the second half. SA-born lock Mouritz Botha scored a try before the break.

The triumph sees Saracens top Pool 5 with five wins from their six group games, and they’ll now host Clermont in the next round. Saracens, who are the only English side left in the European Cup, will host a semi-final should they beat the French club.

In other European Cup results on Sunday, American wing Taku Ngwenya scored a hat-trick in Biarritz’s 36-5 drubbing of Ospreys. Racing Metro suffered their fifth loss of the campaign as they went down 36-30 to Cardiff Blues while Edinburgh sealed top spot in Pool 2 with a 34-11 win over London Irish.

European Cup quarter-finals (played 6 / 7 / 8 April): Munster v Ulster, Leinster v Cardiff, Edinburgh v Toulouse, Saracens v Clermont

Simon Zebo scored a hat-trick and helped the Irish giants to a bonus-point win against last year’s finalists. The result means that Munster have accumulated 25 points and regardless of what happens in Sunday’s games they will go into the quarter-finals at the top-placed side.

Meanwhile in other European Cup matches, Bath ended a disappointing campaign on a high when they beat Glasgow 23-18 at The Rec. Scarlets edged Castres 16-13, Leinster overpowered Montpellier 25-3 and the cool goal-kicking of Ruan Pienaar wasn’t enough to get Ulster over the line in the 19-15 defeat to Clermont. Leicester scored a bonus-point 33-6 win against the hapless Aironi

When he was still based in South Africa, there was a forced expectation on Ruan Pienaar to excel at flyhalf, especially after his outstanding performance in the Springboks’ 42-6 win over England at Twickenham in 2008. This was despite the player’s known desire to play in his preferred position of scrumhalf. When the No 10 experiment had inconsistent results at national level thereafter (in match and kicking performance), Pienaar continued to feature elsewhere in the Bok backline except scrumhalf, as Fourie du Preez, Ricky Januarie and Francois Hougaard were ahead in the pecking order. Pienaar eventually lost his run-on spot and featured mainly off the Bok bench. Pienaar was also utilised at flyhalf for the Sharks in Super Rugby in 2009 and rotated between scrumhalf and pivot in 2010.

This mismanagement saw him make the move to Ulster in October 2010, where he has since thrived as a result of regular scrumhalf selection. His form for Ulster earned him a spot in the Bok World Cup squad last year, despite coach Peter de Villiers’ reluctance to pick overseas-based players.

Ulster scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar

Pienaar has continued his fine club form this season. While he has starred in general play, he’s been more consistent off the kicking tee since he left Durban with his latest display seeing him kick 21 points in Ulster’s 41-7 thumping English giants Leicester Tigers at Ravenhill. He slotted five penalties and converted all of his team’s three tries, while he also played a key role on attack behind a rampant pack. Skipper and lock Johann Muller (who made six tackles and won four lineout feeds), No 8 Pedrie Wannenburg (who made 10 tackles, won two lineout feeds and created two tries) and fullback Stefan Terblanche (who rushed 44m with ball in hand, completed four linebreaks and one turnover) also played their part in the victory.

Ulster now lead Pool 4, three points ahead of Clermont. The two clubs will face off on 21 January at the Stade Marcel Michelin with the winner securing the automatic quarter-final spot.

In other results, Saffa-laden Saracens delivered a strong team performance in their 20-16 win over Biarritz. Hooker John Smit, lock Mouritz Botha, No 8 Ernst Joubert and centre Brad Barritt all started in victory, with Barritt winning a vital 77th-minute penalty which midfield partner Owen Farrell converted. Botha, who gained 29m (the most by a forward in the match) and made seven tackles, and Joubert, who amassed 24m and completed five tackles, were top performers.

Front rowers Wian du Preez and BJ Botha were influential in Munster’s 26-10 win over prop Michael Coetzee and scrumhalf Rory Kockott’s Castres, with Du Preez crossing the chalk in the second half. Tighthead prop Brian Mujati also started his first match since his foot injury as Northampton Saints fought back from a 14-6 half-time deficit to beat Scarlets 29-17.

Inside centre Frans Steyn scored a try in his first start for Racing Metro since the World Cup, but it didn’t help as the French club lost 27-24 at home to Edinburgh. Tighthead prop Daniel Kotze delivered a strong performance in Clermont’s 82-0 thrashing of flyhalf Naas Olivier and lock Quintin Geldenhuys’ Aironi. Loosehead prop Gurthro Steenkamp started in Toulouse’s 24-3 over Connacht, while prop Daan Human and No 8 Shaun Sowerby came off the bench.

While fullback Alex Goode was named Man of the Match, it was outside centre Owen Farrell who starred with boot for Saracens as he kicked five penalties to clinch the four-point win.

The English Premiership defending champions, who spent their week training in Cape Town, led 14-6 at the break before scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili (who scored all Biarritz’s match points) spearheaded his team’s second-half fight. The French international’s third penalty created a one-point game at the death, but Farrell nailed a 77th minute three-pointer which helped his team to their fourth win of the tournament.

Saracens now top Pool 5 by five log points and will travel to Treviso for their final group game.

In Sunday’s other fixture, Leinster recorded a 23-16 away win over Glasgow in Pool 3 to secure their spot in the next round.

Bath led 10-7 at the break and were favourites to win as the clock wound down, but Montpellier rallied for one final attack and scored under the posts through Timoci Nagusa. The result will ensure that Bath exit the European Cup on a particularly disappointing note.

In other European Cup fixtures played on Saturday, Clermont massacred Aironi 82-0 while another French club in Toulouse enjoyed dominance over their opponents Connacht in the 24-3 victory at the Stade Ernest Wallon. Castres could not complete the French treble however, as they went down 26-10 to Munster.

In Wales, Northampton overpowered Scarlets and won 29-17, while in England London Irish went down 22-15 to Cardiff. Harlequins beat Gloucester 20-14 to keep their play-off hopes alive.

The Springbok scrumhalf’s five penalties and three conversions topped a mature all-round performance in a win that puts Ulster in a strong position to qualify automatically for the quarter-final.

The Tigers will need a bonus-point victory over Italian minnows Aironi at Welford Road next week to give themselves any chance in the race for two best runners-up spots, yet teams in other pools appear better placed.

Meanwhile, Frans Steyn’s Racing Metro were downed 27-24 in Paris thanks to a last-minute drop goal from Edinburgh’s Phil Goodman. The momentum of the match swung consistently, with Steyn, playing inside centre, contributing a 23rd minute try. However, Goodman intervened just as it appeared the spoils would be shared. The win keeps the Scottish side top of the table and in the hunt to progress to their first quarter-final in eight years.

In Friday’s other match, the Ospreys kept the pressure up on pool-topping Saracens with a comfortable 44-17 win over Benetton Treviso.

The Bok scrumhalf joined Ulster on a two-year deal at the beginning of the 2010-11 season from the Sharks. At the end of that season he won Ulster’s Player of the Year award and the Celtic League Player of the Year award, voted for by his peers. He was also named in the Celtic League Team of the Year. He has played a total of 29 matches for the club, scoring 166 points (including six tries).

‘I’ve really enjoyed my first two seasons here and when the opportunity came to extend the deal I was very excited,’ said Pienaar. ‘I’ve made some good friends here and I’ve really enjoyed the rugby side. The people of Belfast have welcomed myself and my family with open arms and so it was an easy decision in the end.’

‘We have been negotiating to retain Ruan since the summer and are delighted that he has chosen to extend his contract with us,’ said Ulster director of rugby David Humphreys. ‘He has been instrumental in the team’s success since joining us in 2010. He’s a true match winner and a total professional from his attitude in the gym, through the mentoring role he plays with younger players to the quality of performance he delivers consistently each week.’

Barritt is one of nine newcomers to the squad along with fellow Saracens centre Owen Farrell, Northampton Saints duo Lee Dickson and Calum Clark, and Scarlets No 8 Ben Morgan.

Barritt joined Saracens in August 2008 and has played 87 matches for the club. He was named Saracens’ Player of the Year in the 2009-10 season and was called up for England’s tour to Australia and New Zealand in 2010, playing the midweek match against the New Zealand Maori.

Speaking from the newly opened Stellenbosch Academy of Sports, where Saracens trained on Wednesday morning, the 25-year-old was delighted with the news he received from England.

‘I’m delighted. It’s an opportunity that I’ve been wanting for a long time and one I’ll be grabbing with both hands,’ Barritt told keo.co.za. ‘I’ve been in England for three years now, and I feel I’ve adapted well since my arrival. Now I just have to work hard.’

Over and above international retirements (Lewis Moody, Jonny Wilkinson, Steve Thompson) and long-term injuries (Andrew Sheridan and Richard Wigglesworth), interim coach Stuart Lancaster has axed nearly half of the 2011 World Cup squad including Mike Tindall, Nick Easter and Mark Cueto.

‘Lots of players have been putting their hands up and there were some tough calls to make,’ said Lancaster. ‘However, in line with the selection philosophy about starting new era for English rugby,we have taken the chance to make changes and give players opportunities to be part of the journey towards 2015.

‘We are looking both at the present and just as importantly the future. We wanted to get the right balance in potential and experience and giving us the flexibility to play in different ways. We need to use the upcoming games to build the collective experience and we are confident we have got the right mix to take England forward into this Six Nations and beyond.’

Barritt added that he’s excited to be part of a new era in England rugby.

‘Losing many players is the general trend after a World Cup. And this now a huge chance for the younger guys who are ready for the step up. There are some new talented guys in the squad and I believe their selection is warranted. It’s an exciting time for everyone.’

England Elite Player Squad (32)

Forwards (18): Mouritz Botha (Saracens), Calum Clark (Northampton Saints), Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers), Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers), Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Lee Mears (Bath ), Ben Morgan (Scarlets), Tom Palmer (Stade Francais), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Matt Stevens (Saracens), Rob Webber (London Wasps), David Wilson (Bath ), Tom Wood (Northampton Saints).

Backs (14): Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers), Ben Foden (Northampton Saints), Charlie Hodgson (Saracens), Joe Simpson (London Wasps), Charlie Sharples (Gloucester ), David Strettle (Saracens), Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).

Toulouse have proved to be the top French club this season. At the halfway mark of their domestic campaign, the defending champions head the Top 14 table with a six log point lead above Clermont, while they also hold first place in Pool 6 of the European Cup with three wins from four.

Toulouse’s South African contingent of hooker Gary Botha, props Daan Human and Gurthro Steenkamp and No 8 Shaun Sowerby have contributed to this impressive form. While Botha (broken leg) and Human (broken eye socket) are sidelined with recent serious injuries, Sowerby and Steenkamp helped the team to their sixth straight domestic win, a 51-10 thrashing of scrumhalf Ricky Januarie’s Lyon.

Toulouse No 8 Shaun Sowerby

Sowerby was the standout forward at the Stade Ernest Wallon, especially on attack as he rushed 63m with ball in hand (the most by a forward), completed four offloads (the most in the game) and scored one of Toulouse’s five tries. The one-time Springbok also made five tackles and was a key figure in the lineouts. Steenkamp was solid up front when he came off the bench early in the second half.

Elsewhere in France, flanker Gerhard Vosloo played the full 80 minutes in Clermont’s crucial 25-19 comeback win over No 8 Joe van Niekerk and reserve lock Bakkies Botha’s Toulon. Wing Sam Gerber’s try wasn’t enough to help Bayonne as they lost 27-20 at home to scrumhalf Heini Adams’ Bordeaux. Lock Rob Linde also featured for the hosts.

Former WP centre Paul Bosch and former Lions and Bulls hooker Erasmus van Vuuren started in Montpellier’s 23-9 away victory over Brive, who had centre Riaan Swanepoel, wing Ronnie Cooke, lock Retief Uys and No 8 Antonie Claassen in their run-on XV.

In the English Premiership, Saffa-laden Saracens made valuable ground on log leaders Harlequins as they recorded a 26-19 win over flanker Francois Louw and scrumhalf Michael Claassens’ Bath in Watford. Hooker John Smit, prop Matt Stevens, lock Mouritz Botha, No 8 Ernst Joubert, centre Brad Barritt, reserve prop Petrus du Plessis and replacement No 8 Justin Melck all featured for the victors. Saracens are second in the standings, three log points behind Harlequins who lost 24-3 to reserve prop Brian Mujati’s Northampton Saints.

London Irish prop Faan Rautenbach came off the bench to play a part in his team’s late 21-19 win over Sale Sharks.

In the Pro 12, scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar kicked four penalties and two conversions in Ulster’s 42-20 win over Edinburgh at Murrayfield. Lock Johann Muller and No 8 Pedrie Wannenburg also started in the win. Munster props Wian du Preez and BJ Botha fronted their club’s 29-11 triumph over Treviso.

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Michalak expressed his desire to return to home shortly after the Currie Cup as he wishes to play his way back into French national squad under new coach Philippe Saint-Andre. Michalak last played for Le Bleus in 2010.

But it seems that move will only happen at the start of the next European season as Boudjellal said Toulon have verbally agreed a three-year deal with the 29-year-old. This means Michalak will feature for the Sharks in 2012′s Super Rugby campaign, which kicks off in February.

‘Nothing has been signed but there is a verbal agreement on a contract for three years,’ said Boudjellal.

‘I think he will be a Toulon player next season. He has been impressed by the chance to play with Jonny Wilkinson and Matt Giteau. We need four to five players of a very high level and, if he signs, Fred will be the start of that.

‘He will come and play at scrumhalf [and] he knows that. His age and experience will help him in this position.’

The 30-year-old was stretchered off in the eighth minute of the defemding champions’ 45-25 win after he collapsed awkwardly in a tackle. Botha is set to be sidelined for up to four months, which will only see him return midway through the second half of Toulouse’s domestic campaign.

This will be a disappointing for Botha, who has held the first-choice hooker spot in recent weeks ahead of French team-mate William Servat. He will now join fellow Saffa front rowers Gurthro Steenkamp and Daan Human on the sidelines.

Botha made the move to France after the Bulls’ 2011 Currie Cup campaign.

Ulster, who are the latest European club to invest in a strong South African contingent, suffered a poor start to the Pro12. They currently sit eighth on their domestic log after losing five of their opening 10 matches. But they have shown better form recently, especially in the European Cup where they hold the lead in Pool 4 above Leicester Tigers and Clermont.

Lock and skipper Johann Muller, scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar, No 8 Pedrie Wannenburg, flanker Robbie Diack and newly signed centre Stefan Terblanche each played a part in the Northern Irish side’s 46-20 away win over lock Quintin Geldenhuys and flyhalf Naas Olivier’s Aironi on Saturday.

Ulster's Johann Muller

Muller (who stole two of the opposition’s lineout throws and made seven tackles), Pienaar (who impressed in his favoured position) and Wannenburg (who completed three turnovers and made seven tackles) all featured in the first 40 before Diack and Terblanche made an impact off the bench. Diack scored one of Ulster’s six tries while Pienaar kicked two conversions in the 26-point drubbing.

In other results, Saffa-laden Saracens held on to beat Ospreys 16-13 in Swansea. The English Premiership champions, who had centre Brad Barritt, tighthead prop Matt Stevens, hooker Schalk Brits, lock Mouritz Botha, No 8 Ernst Joubert, and replacement hooker John Smit and prop Deon Carstens in their match 22, led 16-3 at the break. Joubert dotted down to contribute to the 13-point advantage before an ill-disciplined second-half showing, which saw Brits and flanker Kelly Brown yellow-carded, allowed the hosts to fight back. Sarries, however, did enough for the tight win to stay on top of Pool 5.

Hooker Richardt Strauss and tighthead prop Heinke van der Merwe inspired Leinster to a 52-27 thrashing of scrumhalf Michael Claassens and flanker Francois Louw’s Bath at Lansdowne Road. Both front rowers were powerful in the tight during a strong opening 40 performance, which set the platform for Louw’s second successive defeat as skipper.

Loosehead prop Wian du Preez and tighthead prop BJ Botha were also influential in unbeaten Munster’s 19-13 win over Scarlets in Limerick. Lock Francois van der Merwe and reserve flanker Bernard le Roux helped Racing Metro to their first European Cup win of the season as they downed tighthead prop Faan Rautenbach’s London Irish 25-19, while former WP centre Paul Bosch started in Montpellier’s 13-13 stalemate with Glasgow – the French club’s second draw of a poor campaign.

It’s been a rollercoaster ride over the last two years for former Stormers flanker Francois Louw. In South Africa, he had two impressive Super Rugby seasons with the Stormers and went on to make his Springbok debut in 2010. However, despite some Man-of-the-Match displays in the initial Tests, he was dropped by Bok coach Peter de Villiers after the 2010 Tri-Nations. This led to his departure to Bath following this year’s Super Rugby competition. It all ended well for the player known as Flo, as he was the surprise pick in the Springboks World Cup squad.

For his new English club, Louw made his debut in Bath’s 46-13 LV Cup win over Worcester Warriors, in which he scored a try and was named Man of the Match. Respectable performances thereafter saw Louw named captain of Bath’s European Cup home match against hooker Richardt Strauss and loosehead prop Heinke van der Merwe’s Leinster on Sunday, in retired England skipper Lewis Moody’s injury absence.

Bath skipper Francois Louw sent off

It was a great 70 minutes for Louw, whose highlight was making a crucial steal at the breakdown which created the play that led to Matt Banahan’s second half try. Bath, who also had scrumhalf Michael Claassens in their run-on side, were holding on to a 13-12 lead heading into the final 10 minutes of the match, but two late three-pointers by Irish flyhalf Jonny Sexton sealed the win for the visitors. Louw conceded the last of those penalties and was sent to the sin bin in a disappointing finish to his first high profile game as captain.

Bath now travel to Dublin next weekend and will aim to pick up an important away win to keep their play-off qualification hopes alive.

In other results, No 8 Ernst Joubert scored a try in Saracens’ 31-26 win over Ospreys, which takes them to the top of Pool 5. Hooker Schalk Brits, who made his return from a three-match ban, tighthead prop Matt Stevens and lock Mouritz Botha also featured in the starting line-up.

Front rowers Wian du Preez and BJ Botha fronted Munster’s 17-14 away triumph over Scarlets to take the Irish club’s unbeaten European Cup run to three matches. Former Sharks captain Stefan Terblance made his debut for Ulster off the bench in their 31-10 home win over Aironi. Lock Johann Muller, No 8 Pedrie Wannenburg and replacement flanker Robbie Diack also turned out for the victors.

SA-born Italian lock Corniel van Zyl dotted down for a crucial try in Treviso’s famous 30-26 victory over Biarritz. Former Sharks and Lions scrumhalf Rory Kockott helped Castres to a 41-22 win over Northampton Saints, who were without tighthead prop Brian Mujati, while hooker Gary Botha started in Toulouse’s 21-10 victory over English Premiership log leaders Harlequins.

The Springbok prop has played just 40 minutes for his new French club since joining after the World Cup. The Toulouse management has confirmed that Steenkamp has sustained a serious hip injury, and will miss Friday’s match against Harlequins.

Meanwhile, other Toulouse front-rankers like former Bok prop Daan Human and Johnston Falefa are also unavailable because of injury.

Former Cheetahs hooker Richardt Strauss started in Leinster’s 52-9 mauling of Cardiff Blues in Dublin. The hardman has owned the Irish club’s No 2 jersey with powerful performances up front, and he delivered another one to help Leinster to their biggest league win of the season. He formed part of a strong front row, who shone when they kept the visitors out from a series of 5m attacking scrums, while he also had an impact on attack and defence. Reserve prop Heinke van der Merwe also featured as he came off the bench early in the second half.

Strauss, who left South Africa in 2009, becomes eligible to play for Ireland in the new year and local reports suggest that the IRFU is interested in using his services. The 25-year-old has already confirmed the desire to play Test rugby for his adoptive nation to SA Rugby magazine after Leinster’s European Cup final triumph last season, so we could see the Grey College old boy don a different shade of green on the international stage in the near future.

Leinster hooker Richardt Strauss

Also in the Pro12, lock Johann Muller and flanker Pedrie Wannenburg played a part in Ulster’s 24-17 win over Scarlets. World Cup Springbok Ruan Pienaar also made his first appearance for the Belfast-based club as he came off the bench to fill in at his preferred position of scrumhalf. Flyhalf Willem de Waal kicked a penalty and a conversion in Treviso’s 15-13 away win over Connacht.

In the French Top 14, pivot Conrad Barnard continued to play an influential role with the boot in Agen’s campaign. This time, he kicked 20 points via five penalties, a conversion and drop goal in his team’s 37-18 win over centre Sam Gerber and lock Rob Linde’s Bayonne to secure fourth place on the log. Tighthead prop Gert Muller, lock Dewald Senekal and flanker Adri Badenhorst (who picked up a yellow card) also turned out for the victors.

Former Springbok scrumhalf Ricky Januarie played the full 80 minutes in a rare win for Lyon as they beat Perpignan 19-12. Former Bulls No 9 Heini Adams also saw out Bordeaux’s 16-12 win over Brive, who had tighthead prop Pat Barnard, No 8 Antonie Claassen, wing Ronnie Cooke and flyhalf Riaan Swanepoel (who’s normally a centre) in the starting line-up.

In the English Premiership, Saffa-laden Saracens picked up a hard-fought 15-11 victory at home over tighthead prop Faan Rautenbach’s London Irish. It was challenging start for Sarries as hooker John Smit picked up a yellow card in the 11th minute of his third start for a professional foul in his team’s red zone. But the hosts did enough to finish on top, with loosehead prop Matt Stevens, lock Mouritz Botha and No 8 Ernst Joubert all chipping in for the win.

Scrumhalf Michael Claassens’ try couldn’t help Bath as they lost 16-13 against Sale Sharks after leading 10-0 at the break. Centre Corne Uys, fullback Greg Goosen and reserve lock Adriaan Fondse contributed to a Newcastle Falcons’ much-needed 26-25 win over Gloucester – only their second league win of the season.

Northampton Saints tighthead prop Brian Mujati started in the controversial fixture against Leicester Tigers, which saw wing Alesana Tuilagi and flanker Tom Wood both red-carded for a punch up. Leicester went on to win 30-25.

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