Saffas Abroad: Du Preez stars as Sale stun Premiership leaders

Published on

Daniel du Preez played an integral role in helping Sale Sharks claim a win over Premiership leaders Leicester Tigers, while there were also impressive performances from Cobus Reinach and Malcolm Marx this past weekend.

English Premiership:
– Daniel du Preez was named Man of the Match for his performance in Sale Sharks’ 35-26 victory over league-leaders Leicester Tigers on Sunday. Du Preez scored one of Sale’s five tries in the second half, along with making 56 metres from nine carries, completing all eight tackles, beating two defenders and making two linebreaks.

Jean-Luc du Preez and Lood de Jager formed the second row for Sale, while Rohan Janse van Rensburg and Robert du Preez were in the midfield. Jono Ross played at openside flank, Coenie Oosthuizen was at tighthead prop and lock JP du Preez played off the bench.

Leicester had Springbok Jasper Wiese at No 8 and he made 12 carries, but missed three of his 12 tackle attempts. Hanro Liebenberg returned from injury off the bench for the Tigers.

– Bath stunned defending champions Harlequins 21-17 in what was the bottom dweller’s second win of the season.

Springbok centre Andre Esterhuizen and Tyrone Green both started for Harlequins, and the latter was sent to the sin bin in the first half. Esterhuizen completed all 12 of his tackles, but could not affect the game on attack.

Jaco Coetzee returned from injury for Bath, playing 24 minutes from the bench, making seven carries and three tackles.

– The presence of Springboks Vincent Koch and Ivan van Zyl was not enough to prevent Saracens from slipping to a 26-20 loss to Wasps.

Bok tighthead prop Koch played 76 minutes and missed just one of his 14 tackle attempts. He also made 10 carries and an offload.

French Top 14:
– Cheslin Kolbe‘s first appearance in the Top 14 for Toulon ended in disappointment as the club was beaten 26-24 by Stade Francais.

ALSO READ: Kolbe’s Toulon Top 14 debut ends in defeat

Quinn Roux and Cornell du Preez started for Toulon, while scrumhalf James Hall ran on for Stade, who brought lock JJ van der Mescht off the bench.

– Trevor Nyakane also made his first Top 14 appearance for new club Racing 92 in their 20-15 away win over Toulouse. The Springbok tighthead played 25 minutes as a second-half substitute.

– Cobus Reinach scored a try for Montpellier in their 29-23 victory over La Rochelle.  The Springbok scrumhalf crossed over in the corner from a planned move from a lineout in the first half of the match. Jan Serfontein started at inside centre for Montpellier and completed 70 minutes before he was substituted, making eight tackles in that time.

Dillyn Leyds scored two tries for La Rochelle, who had Raymond Rhule at outside centre.

Japan Rugby League One:
A host of Springboks returned for their respective teams in the fourth round of Japan’s League One.

– Pieter-Steph du Toit started at blindside flank for Toyota Verblitz, helping them beat Toshiba Brave Lupus 33-23.

– Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx scored a hat-trick of tries for Kubota Spears in a 59-26 victory over Green Rockets.

ALSO READ: Marx scores hat-trick in Japan

– Jesse Kriel was named to start on the right wing for Canon Eagles in their clash with Shining Arcs. However, the game was called off due to positive Covid-19 cases in the Shining Arcs squad.

– Kwagga Smith played an outstanding match to help Shizuoka Blue Revs claim a 36-13 win over Johann Ackermann‘s Red Hurricanes team. Hooker Franco Marais, lock Ruan Vermaak, flank Tyler Paul and flyhalf Gianni Lombard all started for Red Hurricanes. Lombard kicked two penalties and a conversion.

– Springbok lock Franco Mostert started for Honda Heat in their 32-24 victory over Red Dolphins. Flank Paul Schoeman and centre Dawid Kellerman also started for Heat.

Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images for Sale Sharks

Post by

Dylan Jack