Here’s a wrap of all the action involving South African players in the opening round of the English Premiership, including a look at the face-off between Daniel du Preez and Juarno Augustus.
– Sale Sharks got their Gallagher Premiership campaign off to the perfect start with a 29-22 bonus-point victory over Northampton. The match featured a clash of South African No 8s, with Daniel du Preez starting for Sale against Northampton’s Juarno Augustus. Du Preez made 11 carries for 35 metres, four passes, five tackles, one clean break, a try assist and beat three defenders. Augustus, meanwhile, made 71m from 11 carries, 10 tackles, beat three defenders and made one clean break.
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Also involved in the match for Sale were Jean-Luc du Preez, lock Cobus Wiese, tighthead props Nic Schonert and Coenie Oosthuizen, hooker Akker van der Merwe, flyhalf Robert du Preez – who kicked a penalty and three conversions – and replacement flank Jono Ross.
Courtnall Skosan started on the left wing for Northampton, but was yellow-carded in the first half and replaced after 56 minutes.
– Ruan Ackermann captained Gloucester to a come-from-behind 27-21 win over Wasps at Kingsholm. Wasps took a 21-0 lead into the break, with inside centre Burger Odendaal celebrating his Premiership and Wasps debut with a try.
– Bristol Bears needed a last-minute conversion to snatch a 31-29 victory over Bath to hand Johann van Graan a defeat in his first Premiership match as head coach. Bath had a host of South Africans in their lineup, including loose forwards Jaco Coetzee and Chris Cloete, props Johannes Coetzee and Johannes Jonker and scrumhalf Louis Schreuder.
– Tyrone Green and Wilco Louw both got on the scoresheet to help Harlequins claim a thrilling 40-31 win over Newcastle Falcons.
– London Irish began the new season in scintillating form, scoring seven tries on the way to a 45-14 win over Worcester Warriors. Benhard Janse van Rensburg starred at inside centre for London Irish, picking up a try assist and making one clean break and 10 tackles. His opposite number, Francois Venter, also had a solid outing, making 13 tackles and 27m.
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– Hanro Liebenberg scored a try in his first Premiership match as Leicester’s official captain, but could not prevent the Tigers from losing 24-20 to Exeter Chiefs, who snatched a victory thanks to Namibian prop Pat Schickerling’s try.
Photo: Naomi Baker/Getty Images for Sale Sharks)
