SARugbymag.co.za looks back at the past weekend’s English Premiership, Celtic Pro12 and French Top 14 matches, involving South African players.
PREMIERSHIP
– Francois Hougaard, Nick Schonert, Dewald Potgieter and Wynand Olivier formed part of the Worcester Warriors side that lost 36-26 against the Sale Sharks. Hougaard scored the Warriors' opening try. The results keeps Worcester in 11th spot behind their conquerors, who are 10th.
– Saracens thrashed city-rivals Harlequins 40-19 at Wembley. Hooker Schalk Brits and flank Michael Rhodes scored a try apiece to help Sarries to a bonus-point triumph. Captain Brad Barritt and prop Vincent Koch started alongside the two Saffa scorers, while prop Petrus du Plessis was on the bench. Flyhalf Tim Swiel was a replacement for Quins.
– Wasps, featuring Willie le Roux at fullback and Ashley Johnson at flank, scored a late try to snatch a 32-30 win against the Northampton Saints. Scrumhalf Nic Groom started for the Saints, who are now seventh in the standings.
– Don Armand led the Exeter Chiefs to a pulsating 38-34 bonus-point triumph over relegation-bound Bristol. Nick Fenton-Wells was used as an impact player by Bristol. The result sees Exeter cling on to second spot on the log ahead of Saracens.
– Bath, co-captained by Francois Louw, edged the Leicester Tigers 27-21 in front of a 60,000-strong crowd at Twickenham. Tigers wing JP Pietersen's yellow card proved costly. With Leicester leading, the Bok speedster was given his marching orders for a deliberate knock-down, and with the numerical advantage Bath went on to score the winning try.
TOP 14
– La Rochelle's fairytale season continued as they beat Bordeaux 16-5 to open up an 11-point lead at the top of the log, with three rounds remaining before the knockout stage. Scrumhalf Ricky Januarie played for La Rochelle, while lock Jandré Marais was on duty for Bordeaux.
– Montpellier, with Frans Steyn, Willie du Plessis, Paul Willemse, Jacques du Plessis and Bismarck du Plessis in their ranks, dismantled Grenoble 54-14. Bismarck scored one of the winners' eight tries, while Willie slotted seven conversions for a 14-point haul. Scrumhalf Charl McLeod and lock Hendrik Roodt did service for Grenoble, who look set to be demoted to the Pro D2 at the end of the season.
– Lyon claimed a big scalp when they beat Castres 17-16. Front rowers Dan Kötze and Jody Jenneker, and scrumhalf Rory Kockott, played for Castres. Lyon had Albertus Buckle and BJ Botha in their team.
– Bayonne's relegation to the Pro D2 was confirmed after they slumped to a 32-16 defeat against Stade Français at home. Meyer Bosman, Morné Steyn, Jono Ross and Craig Burden turned out for the winners, with Steyn adding 12 points via three conversions and two penalties.
– No 8 Petrus Hauman scored a crucial try to help lift Brive to a surprise 26-21 win against hosts Clermont. Hauman played alongside locks Jan Uys and Wilhelm Steenkamp. Clermont had internationals Flip van der Merwe and Scott Spedding in their team. The defeat means the second-placed Clermont are now only four points ahead of Montpellier, who have a game in hand.
– Racing held off Pau to clinch a 34-32 win in Paris. Flank Bernard le Roux and lock Gerbrant Grobler turned out for Racing, who are now level on points with Castres and Pau, but sit behind them because of points difference.
– Boks Duane Vermeulen, Juan Smith, Juandré Kruger and Bryan Habana all started for Toulon in their 33-23 defeat of Toulouse. Prop Marcel van der Merwe was on the bench and joined his compatriots on the field in the second half. The win keeps Toulon in fourth position.
PRO12
– Ruan Pienaar, Wiehahn Herbst, Rob Herring and Robbie Diack represented Ulster, who were held to a 24-24 draw with the Cardiff Blues. Lock George Earle started for the Blues.
– Connacht edged hosts Edinburgh 22-19 to move up to seventh on the log. Wing Danie Poolman retained his starting spot in the winning side's lineup, as did teammate Quinn Roux.
– The on-loan Jean Deysel made his debut for Munster, who ground out a 10-7 win against the Glasgow Warriors. Deysel started alongside centre Jaco Taute. Munster remain second on the table.
– DTH van der Merwe bagged a brace as the Scarlets thrashed Treviso 51-5. The wing featured with compatriot Werner Kruger for the winners. Bottom-feeders Treviso had No 8 Braam Steyn on the the bench.
– Flanks Derick Minnie and Johan Meyer chipped in with a try each as Zebre stunned the Newport Gwent Dragons 29-14. Wings Kayle van Zyl and Lloyd Greeff, and lock Gideon Koegelenberg, also donned the Zebre jersey. The Dragons played with Pat Howard on the wing, Ligtoring Landman was at No 5 lock and Brok Harris at tighthead prop.
– Outside centre Zane Kirchner's Leinster emerged 20-18 victors after a titanic battle with prop Brian Mujati's Ospreys. Leinster clinched the win with a last-gasp drop goal to stay two points clear at the top of the table.
Photo: www.pro12rugby.com
