The match, which the Springboks won 37-13, pulled in an average audience of 6.6m across ITV's entire coverage in the 7.45pm-10pm slot, according to unofficial overnight figures. The figures include time-shifted "+1" channels.
ITV's live coverage edged out BBC One's 'Michael Palin's New Europe', which drew 5.8m and a 23.5% share in the 9pm-10pm slot.
Despite an onslaught of heavy hitters from ITV and the BBC, Channel 4 had a solid evening, with 'Wife Swap' attracting 2.2m and an 8.5% share in the 8pm-9pm slot.
Channel 4 followed 'Wife Swap' with the Jude Law remake of 'Alfie' in the 9pm-11pm slot. The film was watched by 1.7m and an 8.1% share.
The England national football team's comfortable 3-0 win over Estonia in a Euro 2008 qualifier handed BBC One a 47.2% share of audience on Saturday afternoon. The live coverage, scheduled in the 2.30pm-5.15pm slot, pulled in 6m viewers.
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