SARugbymag.co.za looks back at the English Premiership, French Top 14 and Celtic Pro12 matches played this weekend.

Francois Hougaard played an influential role in the Worcester Warriors’ 41-24 bonus-point win over Bristol at Sixways Stadium. The two teams are locked in a relegation battle at the bottom of the English Premiership standings, and this result could go a long way in deciding the fate of both sides at the end of the season.

In a standout performance Hougaard scored a great solo try in the first half, and made a searing break to set up another as the Warriors led 31-10 at the break. Bristol improved in the second half, but Worcester still managed to cross for two more tries, including one from centre Wynand Olivier to seal a vital victory.

In other round 17 Premiership matches, Wasps extended their lead at the top of the log with a 24-3 win over hosts Bath at the Rec. Lock Michael Rhodes scored the opening try as Saracens edged the Newcastle Falcons 35-27, Harlequins battled to a 30-27 win over Gloucester, the Northampton Saints thumped the Sale Sharks 32-12, and the Exeter Chiefs smashed the Leicester Tigers 34-15 at Welford Road.

Meanwhile, in the French Top 14, Rory Kockott and Jody Jenneker starred as Castres stunned Clermont 26-16. A late penalty saw Pau snatch a 25-25 draw against Bayonne, Racing’s troubled season took another knock with a surprise 19-10 loss against the struggling Grenoble, Brive pulled off a stunning 15-5 victory over a star-studded Toulon side and Lyon upset Montpellier 16-3.

Results in the Celtic Pro12 saw Leinster hammer the Scarlets 45-9, Rassie Erasmus’ Munster overturned a half-time deficit to claim a hard-fought 23-13 win over the Cardiff Blues, the Glasgow Warriors whacked the Newport Gwent Dragons 47-17, the Ospreys edged Edinburgh 13-9, Ulster beat Treviso 19-7 and Connacht eased past Zebre 33-3.

Photo: English Premiership