Here’s a wrap of all the action involving South African players in England, France and Japan, including how Faf de Klerk’s goal-kicking helped Sale Sharks to a victory.
English Premiership
– Worcester Warriors did enough to get past 14-man Exeter Chiefs in a 35-31 win.
Jacques Vermeulen (flank) and Jannes Kirsten (lock) both started for Exeter, while Worcester had scrumhalf Gareth Simpson on the bench.
– Premiership leaders Leicester Tigers saw off 14-man London Irish in a high-scoring 48-27 thriller.
Jasper Wiese and Hanro Liebenberg were both in the starting back row for Leicester. Wiese made 17 carries (the most of any Leicester player), 26 metres and 12 tackles, while Liebenberg made eight tackles and won eight lineouts.
Centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg started again for London Irish and scored a try in the first half, while also making 81m with ball in hand, beating four defenders and winning a turnover. Former Vodacom Bulls prop Marcel van der Merwe also started for London Irish.
– In a dominant second-half display, Saracens downed hosts Newcastle Falcons 36-21 after leading by just one point at the half-time break.
Springbok tighthead prop Vincent Koch continued in Saracens’ starting XV and played 77 minutes, making five carries and six tackles.
Bath-bound scrumhalf Louis Schreuder started for Newcastle.
– Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk scored 11 points to help Sale Sharks survive a late comeback from Gloucester and claim a 26-24 bonus-point win.
De Klerk scored a try in the third minute and kicked three conversions for Sale, while also picking up two try-assists in an excellent performance. De Klerk’s Bok teammate, Jean-Luc du Preez, also scored for Sale, as did lock JP du Preez.
No 8 Dan du Preez, flank Jono Ross, tighthead prop Coenie Oosthuizen and centre Robert du Preez all started for Sale. Dan du Preez was heavily involved, making 66m from 11 carries, seven tackles, seven passes, one offload, beating five defenders and winning five lineouts.
Gloucester had Ruan Ackermann at No 8 and the former Lions player made five tackles, six carries and won two turnovers.
– Third-placed Harlequins extended the gap between themselves and the chasing pack by beating Bristol Bears 38-29 after leading 26-19 at half time.
Harlequins lost fullback Tyrone Green to what appeared to be a bad knee injury inside the first 15 minutes of the match. Andre Esterhuizen put in a solid performance for Harlequins at inside centre, making 11 tackles and winning a turnover.
Bok tighthead prop Wilco Louw came off the bench for Harlequins in the second half, while Stephan Lewies started at blindside flank.
– Northampton Saints kept their Premiership playoff hopes alive with a hard-fought 27-22 bonus-point win over Wasps.
Courtnall Skosan started for Saints and scored his ninth try of the season. He was joined in the starting lineup by No 8 Juarno Augustus and lock Dave Ribbans, who made his 100th appearance for Northampton.
Top 14
– Montpellier returned to winning ways and climbed to the top of the Top 14 table by claiming a narrow 18-16 win over Toulon.
Lock Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, scrumhalf Cobus Reinach and inside centre Jan Serfontein all started for Montpellier, who managed to hold on to first place after Bordeaux were beaten by Clermont in the only other Top 14 game this past weekend.
Toulon welcomed Eben Etzebeth back to the starting lineup and the Springbok lock played 58 minutes, making five tackles, seven carries and breaking one tackle.
Japan League One
– Suntory Sungoliath leapfrogged into second place after claiming a 33-29 bonus-point win over Kubota Spears.
Gerhard van den Heever was the only South African involved in the match as he started at fullback for Spears, who were without Bok hooker Malcolm Marx due to injury.
– League-leaders Wild Knights held on to the top spot after beating Toyota Verblitz 51-26 in an 11-try thriller.
Despite playing for the losing side, flyhalf Lionel Cronje put on a show, scoring two tries and kicking three conversions. Pieter-Steph du Toit also started for sixth-placed Verblitz, who had Willie le Roux on the bench.
– Kobe Steel climbed into seventh place after a 56-21 win over eighth-placed Black Rams, with both teams level on 16 points each.
JD Schickerling was at lock for Kobe Steel, who welcomed Bok centre Lukhanyo Am to the club last week.
– Jesse Kriel, SP Marais and Kobus van Dyk all scored tries as Canon Eagles beat Johan Ackerman’s Red Hurricanes 49-24.
Marais also kicked seven conversions as Canon piled more misery on to Hurricanes, who are bottom of the table having not won a game this season. Former Sharks flank Tyler Paul scored a try for Hurricanes.
– Shizuoka Blue Revs picked up just their second win in five matches to open a gap between themselves and the relegation zone by beating Shining Arcs 27-10.
Kwagga Smith started at No 8 for the Blue Revs, who are in ninth place, two points above the relegation zone.
Photo: Jan Kruger/Getty Images for Sale Sharks
