The South African Rugby Union, after talks with government officials last week, announced last weekend that Zimbabwe-born Mtawarira, who has played 19 tests for the Springboks since last year, was cleared to join their tour of Europe.

But the Sports Ministry released a statement late Wednesday that it was "unhappy" that Mtawarira wasn't a South African citizen, passport-holder or permanent resident, and that he had only a work permit to play for the Sharks. The ministry also implied SARU was defying immigration laws and "trying to slip (Mtawarira) through the legal framework."

The ministry said SARU's pre-tour request of Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile to expedite citizenship for Mtawarira "exposed ... clear disrespect or lack of understanding of our laws."

"No foreign national can play for our national teams, no matter how outstanding they may be," the statement said.

SARU had no comment on the ministry statement on Thursday and reports suggested the ministry was leaving the decision to play Mtawarira on Friday in the hands of SARU.

Mtawarira wasn't likely to be dropped after starting every test this year, and being a key figure in the British Lions and Tri-Nations triumphs.

Also prominent was flyhalf Morne Steyn, whose accurate boot piled up the winning points against the Lions, New Zealand and Australia in his debut international season. Steyn has landed 36 of 40 goalkicks in nine tests, and will make France wary of playing too long in its own half in Toulouse.

Also on Friday, Wales hosts Samoa, and Tonga plays Ireland A.

On Saturday, Italy meets New Zealand before an 80,000-sellout at San Siro, England faces Argentina, and Scotland tackles Fiji. On Sunday, Australia's Grand Slam tour faces its severest test from Six Nations champion Ireland at Croke Park, and Japan plays Canada in the first of two tests.

Wales, which has lost three of its six tests against Samoa _ including two in Cardiff _ limited any chance of an upset by retaining 10 of the side which started last weekend's 19-12 defeat to the All Blacks.

"It's a huge mark of respect to Samoa, who are a serious threat," said Wales captain Ryan Jones.

But a Samoa side which has struggled to put together a squad including players from the tsunami-hit islands knows it is the underdog.

"Our aim is to spoil the party," midfielder Seilala Mapusua said. "We hope to be a speed bump in Wales' progress."

The All Blacks, debuting three players, have never lost to Italy, but are expecting the Azzurri to be revved up by their first appearance in Milan's famed football stadium.

"I imagine the Italian buildup will be very emotional, they'll play on emotion early and they'll be very physical and hard to overcome early on," New Zealand assistant coach Wayne Smith said.

"They're big boys, and strong and aggressive, so they're going to be a real battle and it's our job to defuse that as quickly as we can and try to take the crowd away from them. It's going to be a cauldron."

England made only four changes from the 18-9 loss to Australia, and Argentina sense a win for the taking at Twickenham even if the Pumas look only half familiar from the teams' two-test June series, which finished at 1-1.

Argentina's pack will be as formidable as usual, but the backline will be untested after injuries robbed the Pumas of playmakers Juan Martin Hernandez and Felipe Contepomi, plus winger Lucas Amorosino, who scored Leicester's try in the win over the Springboks.

Chris Cusiter will lead out Scotland for the first time on Saturday against Fiji at Murrayfield, after coach Andy Robinson decided to appoint two captains, the other being the other regular scrumhalf Mike Blair.

There was no question Brian O'Driscoll would lead the Six Nations Grand Slam champion Ireland after Paul O'Connell skippered the Lions in South Africa. In Ireland's first home match since earning its first Grand Slam since 1948, O'Driscoll will become the 11th player to achieve 100 tests _ 94 for Ireland, six for the Lions _ when he takes on the Wallabies.

The match is the second and hardest leg of Australia's own Grand Slam tour, and coach Robbie Deans signaled another changing of the guard by starting David Pocock at openside flanker ahead of 106-cap George Smith.

The Wallabies lost on their last visit to Dublin, in 2006.

"Australia are a very smart team, the smartest in world rugby," O'Driscoll said. "They're able to adapt on the pitch, changing from Plan A if they need to. That makes them dangerous, but also a great challenge."