SARugbymag.co.za looks back at the past weekend’s English Premiership, Celtic Pro12 and French Top 14 matches, involving South African players.
FRENCH TOP 14
– Bordeaux thrashed Grenoble 46-14 to move from 11th to eighth in the standings. Lock Jandré Marais started for the winners and teammate Steven Kitshoff played off the bench, but the prop was yellow-carded late in the second half. Lock Hendrik Roodt represented Grenoble, who are ranked 13th.
ALSO READ: Kitshoff heading home
– Prop Albertus Buckle and flank Deon Fourie featured in the Lyon side that edged Stade Français 35-33 in an ill-disciplined match that produced two red and two yellow cards. Prop Heinke van der Merwe and No 8 Jono Ross started for Stade and flyhalf Morné Steyn played off the bench. The result sees Lyon climb to 11th, above Stade Français who are now in 12th position.
– Toulon, with Bok quartet Bryan Habana, Juan Smith, Juandré Kruger and Marcel van der Merwe in their ranks, humiliated bottom-feeders Bayonne 82-14 at home. Toulon outscored their visitors 12 tries to two, with Habana and Smith each grabbing a brace. The win wasn't enough to lift Toulon higher than sixth, the position they occupied before the round.
– Brive continued their upward curve by following up last weekend's win against Toulon with a 21-19 victory over Toulouse. Lock Johan Snyman, No 8 Paul Hauman and prop Kevin Buys were on duty for Brive.
– La Rochelle extended their lead at the top of the table with a convincing 38-15 win over reigning champions Racing in Paris. Fullback Sean Robinson, eighthman Antonie Claassen and lock Gerbrant Grobler, who scored a try, started for the underwhelming Racing. Scrumhalf Ricky Januarie and centre Paul Jordaan did service for La Rochelle, who are now eight points clear at the top.
– Castres' South African contingent Jody Jenneker, Dan Kotzé, Rory Kockott and Robert Ebersohn were in the starting lineup that lost 18-12 against Pau. No tries were scored, but Pau out-kicked Castres by six penalties to four.
– Frans Steyn made a perfect return from his suspension for Montpellier, who shocked the more fancied Clermont 28-19. The flyhalf started alongside Bismarck du Plessis, Paul Willemse, Jacques du Plessis and Pierre Spies, while countrymen Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg and Willie du Plessis sat on the bench. Steyn added eight points via a conversion, a penalty and a drop goal and Bismarck scored a first-half try. Former Bulls and Bok lock Flip van der Merwe played for Clermont, who are only three points ahead of third-placed Montpellier in the standings.
ALSO READ: Terrific Toulon batter Bayonne
CELTIC PRO12
– Ruan Pienaar, Marcell Coetzee, Robbie Diack, Wiehahn Herbst, Franco van der Merwe and captain Rob Herring all turned out for Ulster, who beat Zebre 68-21 in their rescheduled round nine clash. Pienaar scored 17 points for the winners, while Coetzee left the field early with a knee injury. Ulster confirmed the Bok will have to go for scans and see a specialist before a prognosis can be made about the severity of Coetzee's injury. Zebre named Lloyd Greeff, Carlo Engelbrecht, Gideon Koegelenberg, Quintin Geldenhuys and Bartholomeus le Roux in their starting lineup.
ANGLO-WELSH CUP
– JP Pietersen and his Leicester Tigers teammates advanced to the final after they beat Saracens 32-10 at Allianz Park. Vincent Koch, Schalk Burger and Neil de Kock did service for Sarries, who lost at home for the first time in over a year.
– Compiled by Mariette Adams
Photo: Thierry Zoccolan/Getty Images
