Block on player angers Boks

JUAN de Jongh will make his international debut for South Africa against Wales in Cardiff tomorrow after Butch James was ruled out.

Bath back James had been due to feature at inside centre, but English clubs are not obliged to release players for a match that falls outside the recognised IRB June playing window.

The South African Rugby Union (SARU) had hoped to secure the player's release by virtue of clauses in his contract but their request was rejected by Premier Rugby, the umbrella organisation for England's Premiership clubs.

The ruling has upset SARU, whose president Oregan Hoskins was left further infuriated after Saracens hooker Schalk Brits was allowed by his club to play for the Barbarians. He said: "SARU, Bath and Butch were all keen to see Butch play but the rule has been strictly enforced.

"What's particularly frustrating is that Schalk Brits has just played 33 matches for Saracens and can be released to play for the Barbarians against Ireland this weekend, whereas Butch has played barely a dozen matches this season and he can't play against Wales."

South Africa: F Steyn (Racing Metro); G Aplon (Stormers), J Fourie (Stormers), J de Jongh (Stormers), O Ndungane (Sharks); R Pienaar (Sharks), R Januarie (Stormers); CJ van der Linde (Leinster), J Smit (Sharks, captain), BJ Botha (Ulster), D Rossouw (Bulls), V Matfield (Bulls), F Louw (Stormers), D Potgieter (Bulls), J van Niekerk (Toulon). Replacements: C Ralepelle (Bulls), J du Plessis (Sharks), A Hargreaves (Sharks), R Kankowski (Sharks), M Bosman (Cheetahs), Z Kirchner (Bulls), B Basson (Cheetahs).