­
  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • Vodacom URC
  • Videos
  • Cars
    • Cheap cars for sale
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Deals
    • One Day Deals
    • Nationwide Deals
      • Deals in Cape Town
      • Deals in Johannesburg
      • Deals in Durban
      • Deals in Pretoria
      • Deals in Port Elizabeth
    • Accommodation Deals
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Food and Drink Deals
    • Experiences
    • Health and Wellness Deals
    • Beauty and Spa Deals
  • BLACKOUT RUGBY MANAGER

SA Rugby magazine

South African rugby news, interviews, videos and more. Covering the Springboks, Bulls, Stormers, Sharks, Cheetahs and Lions, as well as schools and club rugby.

Primary Menu Search
  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • Vodacom URC
  • Videos
  • Cars
    • Cheap cars for sale
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Deals
    • One Day Deals
    • Nationwide Deals
      • Deals in Cape Town
      • Deals in Johannesburg
      • Deals in Durban
      • Deals in Pretoria
      • Deals in Port Elizabeth
    • Accommodation Deals
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Food and Drink Deals
    • Experiences
    • Health and Wellness Deals
    • Beauty and Spa Deals
  • BLACKOUT RUGBY MANAGER
You are here: Home ∼ Saffas Abroad: Leyds stars in Top 14 debut

Saffas Abroad: Leyds stars in Top 14 debut

Dillyn Leyds Dillyn Leyds on his debut for La Rochelle
Published on September 7, 2020

SARugbymag.co.za looks back at the South African players who featured for their respective clubs in the first round of the French Top 14 this weekend.

– Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard‘s form off the kicking tee was not enough to prevent Montpellier from slumping to a surprise 26-23 loss to Pau in the opening match of the season on Friday. Pollard kicked two conversions and three penalties for a haul of 13 points and created the first try of the 2020-21 season. He was one of four South Africans in Montpellier’s starting lineup, with Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg and Paul Willemse forming the lock pairing, while Jan Serfontein started at inside centre. Montpellier coach Xavier Garbajosa kept Bismarck du Plessis and Cobus Reinach on the bench for a second-half impact. Reinach made his debut in the second stanza, but could not stop Pau from grabbing a win. Lourens Adriaanse was on the bench for Pau and the tighthead prop made a big impact in the second half, shoving the Montpellier pack backwards at the scrum to help get the winning penalty try after the hooter.

ALSO READ: Montpellier succumb to shock defeat

– Springboks Dillyn Leyds and Raymond Rhule both enjoyed successful debuts for La Rochelle, helping their side claim a 29-15 victory over Toulon. Leyds started in the No 14 jersey and played the full 80 minutes, making eight carries, beating three defenders, with one clean break and running 67 metres, while also winning two turnovers. Meanwhile, Rhule was named in a slightly unfamiliar position at outside centre, but also did a good job, playing 62 minutes, making five carries, four passes, 49m and missing just one of his three tackles. Rhule’s efforts earned him a place in the Top 14 Team of the Week. Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth came off the bench for Toulon in the second half, but left the field prematurely after suffering a rib injury that will have both his club and national coaches concerned.

ALSO READ: Etzebeth injury headache

– France-capped South African scrumhalf Rory Kockott scored a first-half try as Castres survived a second-half comeback to beat Agen 26-22. To go with his try, Kockott also made 53 passes, 10 kicks, three carries (beating one defender) with 42m gained. Johann Sadie started at outside centre for Agen, who had former Pumas and Griquas lock Jeremy Jordaan on the bench.

– Brive got their 2020-21 season off to a comfortable start by punishing an ill-disciplined Bayonne side with a 42-23 victory. Lock Peet Marais, flank Retief Marais and former Cheetahs centre Nico Lee all started for Brive. Lee starred for his side, earning a place in the Team of the Week.

– Springbok flank Rynhardt Elstadt‘s brace of tries could not prevent Toulouse from losing a thrilling and high-tempered opener to Clermont 33-30. A total of four cards were dished out, with Toulouse spending most of the match with 13 men after losing starting lock pair Richie Arnold and Joe Tekori to red cards either side of half time. Clermont’s Daniel Biziwu and Toulon’s Julien Marchand were also shown yellow. To go with his brace, Elstadt also made 11 tackle (missing one), seven carries, two passes, while also winning a turnover. Cheslin Kolbe started on the left wing and played 54 minutes, making one linebreak and running 27m. South African-born Japan star Kotaro Matsushima made his debut at fullback for Clermont but unfortunately went off injured after just 16 minutes.

Photo: Baptiste Fernandez/Icon Sport via Getty Images

Posted in French Top 14, Saffas Abroad, Top headlines

Post by SA Rugby magazine

SA Rugby magazine

Check out Blackout Rugby Manager HERE!

← Previous Next →

Sevens’ party falls flat

World Rugby shouldn’t have messed with a winning sevens formula, writes SIMON...

Draining format clogs Blitzboks’ blockage

A protracted schedule took the wind out of South Africa's sails at...

England cut Eddie, Razor to stop the bleeding

England have made the rash decision to part ways with coach Eddie...

Rassie ref hom in die rooi

Rassie Erasmus is hardly the embarrassment that some are making him out...

Cut and paste Kurt-Lee for Kolbe

Kurt-Lee Arendse ticks all the right boxes to replace the injured Cheslin...

Rassie auditions for England job

Rassie Erasmus has made the most calculated of public job applications to...

Boks need to make mentality adjustment

The Springboks need to lose their underdog mentality, writes SIMNIKIWE XABANISA in...

Kolbe’s worth every penny

Cheslin Kolbe’s big-money move to Toulon should be welcomed as a massive...

‘Bok gameplan, when executed correctly, is hard to match’

The opportunity to play against the All Blacks is a career highlight...

Five key areas the Boks need to dominate for first victory

SA Rugby magazine highlights five crucial areas the Boks will need to...

Top six: Best and worst foreign imports

SARugbymag.co.za identifies six of the best and worst foreign players to play...

Column: When context is needed

As highlighted by the Argentina controversy, ‘cancel culture’ needs a spoonful of...

Dark cloud hangs over WP Rugby

The problems at Western Province Rugby are layered, and everyone involved needs...

From the mag: Foreign Favourites

As Vodacom Super Rugby turned 25 this year, JON CARDINELLI picks an...

Bulls rookies to watch

After a massive exodus of players the Vodacom Bulls will be eager...

Analysis: The new suffocate-and-strangle game

For the Boks to emerge as World Cup winners, they need to...

VIEW MORE
  • Bonus-point Bulls douse Dragons
  • Munster maul luckless Lions
  • Stormers sign off 2022 in style
  • Sharks carve Bulls on New Year’s Eve

Jacques Burger’s Perfect XV

    BKT United Rugby Championship, Scotstoun, Glasgow, Scotland 8/1/2023 Glasgow Warriors vs DHL Stormers Stormers' Damian Willemse Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Craig Watson
  • Highlights: Heartbreak for Stormers in Glasgow thriller

###


COVID-19 Corona Virus
South African Resource Portal

African Insider
African Insider News

ABOUT

  • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Videos
  • Player Features
  • Subscribe
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy Policy

TOURNAMENTS

    • Rugby Championship
    • Super Rugby
    • Currie Cup
    • Varsity Cup
    • Gold Cup
    • Schools
    • Six Nations
    • Champions Cup
    • World Cup
    • Challenge Cup

OPINION

  • Mallett on SuperSport
  • Cardinelli column
  • Lewis column
  • Xabanisa column
  • Borchardt column
  • Superbru

Primary Menu

  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • Vodacom URC
  • Videos
  • Cars
    • Cheap cars for sale
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Deals
    • One Day Deals
    • Nationwide Deals
      • Deals in Cape Town
      • Deals in Johannesburg
      • Deals in Durban
      • Deals in Pretoria
      • Deals in Port Elizabeth
    • Accommodation Deals
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Food and Drink Deals
    • Experiences
    • Health and Wellness Deals
    • Beauty and Spa Deals
  • BLACKOUT RUGBY MANAGER