Here’s a wrap of all the action involving South African players in the Premiership and French Top 14 playoffs, including excellent performances from Springboks Jasper Wiese and Vincent Koch.

Premiership

Unbeaten Leicester Tigers booked their place in the final after England flyhalf George Ford completed a full house to drive the No 1-ranked team to a 27-14 win over Northampton Saints.

The match featured a clash between two South African eighthmen: Leicester’s Jasper Wiese and Northampton’s Juarno Augustus. Wiese produced an influential performance, playing 80 minutes, completing 11 tackles, 20 carries and seven passes while also beating nine defenders and picking up a try-assist. Augustus, meanwhile, played 55 minutes and made four tackles, winning one turnover.

Flank Hanro Liebenberg started for Leicester, while wing Courtnall Skosan and lock Dave Ribbans played for Northampton.

In the second-semi-final, Saracens produced a magnificent defensive display to shrug off three yellow cards and knock out defending champions Harlequins in a 34-17 victory.

Springbok tighthead prop Vincent Koch completed the full match for Saracens and got through a mountain of work, making 12 tackles, three carries and one clean break. Ivan van Zyl was an unused substitute for the hosts.

Andre Esterhuizen, who was recalled to the Springbok squad, had a solid outing for Harlequins. The inside centre made 15 carries, nine tackles and beat six defenders while he also completed two offloads. Flank Stephan Lewies and wing Tyrone Green also started for Harlequins.

Top 14

Springbok duo Dillyn Leyds and Raymond Rhule, as well as flank Wiaan Liebenberg, missed out on a potential double as European champions La Rochelle suffered a 33-28 loss to Toulouse in the first qualifier on Saturday.

Liebenberg, who will be retiring at the end of the season, scored a try in his final game for La Rochelle, while Leyds kicked a conversion.

Rynhardt Elstadt started at blindside flank for Toulouse and put in an outstanding defensive effort with a massive total of 25 tackles.

Bordeaux progressed to the semi-finals after outplaying Racing 92 in a 36-16 victory in the second qualifier on Sunday night.

Lock Jandre Marais started for Bordeaux, while Springbok tighthead prop Trevor Nyakane was in Racing’s starting lineup alongside locks Bernard le Roux and Anton Bresler.

Toulouse will face Castres, while Bordeaux will take on Montpellier in next weekend’s semi-finals.

Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images