Jean de Villiers new rugby career in the Northern Hemisphere didn’t get off to the best of starts.

The Springbok and former WP centre, in his second run-on for the Irish club, was part of a Munster side “demolished in practically every facet”, if Monday’s Irish Times is to be believed, as they crashed 30-0 in Dublin.

Leinster, the European champions, scored three tries in the romp against the Magners League title-holders.

The newspaper’s Gerry Thornley reported: “When Jean de Villiers has bad dreams, one ventures that O’Driscoll will now feature in them.

“The Springbok won’t enjoy watching the video of the Irish captain making him look as if he was jogging on the spot as he accelerated around him; nor will (fullback) Keith Earls as O’Driscoll eluded his despairing tackle for the 45th-minute killer try.”

Munster will face Northampton next and De Villiers will probably come up against his old team mate Brian Mujati.

But there was both victory (13-11) and a standing ovation for Gary Botha, the Bok hooker, as he bade farewell to the Harlequins faithful against the Michael Claassens-led Bath team.

Botha will now return to South Africa but the chances are slim that he will play on Friday night against the Leopards.

Botha enjoyed his time at Quins: “We have strong leaders, strong characters at Harlequins, good structures in place and that makes it difficult to leave.”

Brendan Venter team Saracens won yet another match 22-15 at Newcastle to make it five wins out of five and ensure sole leadership of the Premiership. Venter’s team are the only team to have won all their games.

Saracens had SEVEN South African born players in their starting line-up. They were captained by ex Bulls and Lions player Wikus Van Heerden and Brad Barrit, Derick Hougaard, Neil de Kock, Schalk Brits, Justin Melck and Ernst Joubert all played their parts.

The Guardian reported that “the excellent tactical kicking of half-backs De Kock and Hougaard helped (Saracens) gain a stranglehold on field position. Centre Barritt and No 8 Joubert made several telling carries”.

Gcobani Bobo played of the bench for Newcastle.