SARugbymag.co.za looks back at the past weekend’s English Premiership, Celtic Pro12 and French Top 14 matches, involving South African players.
ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP
– Saracens suffered yet another defeat, this time going down 31-23 against Gloucester at Kingsholm Stadium. Captain Brad Barritt, Schalk Burger, Michael Rhodes, Schalk Brits and Petrus du Plessis all played for the Sarries, who suffered back to back losses for the first time in nearly two years. Brits crossed for one of Saracens' tries, but the defending champions were still unable to secure a losing bonus-point.
– Bath won a scrappy affair against Harlequins 22-12 at the Rec on Saturday. Springbok flank Francois Louw co-captained the winners, who are now up to fourth in the standings. Quins are sixth.
– Springbok duo Pat Cilliers and JP Pietersen starred as the Leicester Tigers lashed Bristol 50-17 at Welford Road. Cilliers opened the scoring for the winners in the 13th minute, before Pietersen completed completed his brace of tries on the half-hour mark. The Tigers are fifth on the log.
– Don Armand's Exeter Chiefs came from behind to beat the Worcester Warriors 48-32 in an 11-try thriller at Sixways. Centre Wynand Olivier, scrumhalf Francois Hougaard, flank Dewald Potgieter and prop Nick Schonert all turned out for Worcester.
– The Sale Sharks caused a big upset with their 34-28 victory against log leaders Wasps on Sunday. Ashley Johnson, who skippered Wasps, scored a try, with Willie le Roux making his debut for them off the bench. The Bok fullback had a decent outing and set up Wasps' last try. Wasps remain six points clear at the top of the log.
– Ex-Sharks hooker Kyle Cooper delivered a polished performance for the Newcastle Falcons in their 46-31 victory over the Northampton Saints. Cooper dotted down for one of the Falcons' seven tries. Ex-Stormers scrumhalf Nic Groom started for Saints, who dropped below their conquerors on the log, with Newcastle now seventh.
CELTIC PRO12
– Leinster, with Zane Kirchner at fullback, brushed aside Edinburgh 39-10 in Dublin. No 8 Cornell du Preez was on duty for Edinburgh, who have lost ground on the top six thanks to sloppy performances in recent weeks. Leinster are second on the log.
– Wing Lloyd Greeff, flank Derick Minnie, lock Gideon Koegelenberg and prop Bartholomeus le Roux formed part of the Zebre side that lost 42-7 against Scarlets. Wing DTH van der Merwe and tighthead prop Werner Kruger were named in the winners' starting lineup.
– The Cardiff Blues, with lock George Earle in their ranks, ran in eight tries to smash Treviso 57-20 at Arms Park. The result was still not enough to get the Blues a desired top six spot.
– A Ruan Pienaar inspired Ulster side eased to a comfortable 37-17 bonus-point win over the Glasgow Warriors. Fullback Louis Ludik, No 8 Marcel Coezee, flank Robbie Diack, lock Franco Mostert, prop Wiehahn Herbst and hooker Rob Herring all featured for the winning side alongside Pienaar, who returned from a six-week injury layoff to score a brilliant try and added three conversions and two penalties for a 17-point haul. Loanee Brandon Thomson made his debut for the Warriors at fullback.
– Munster fired late to wrest a thrilling 25-23 victory over Ospreys on Saturday. A try by wing Hanno Dirksen opened the scoring for Ospreys, who sped out to a 17-3 lead. But Munster, featuring scrumhalf Abrie Griesel, closed that gap before landing a telling blow via a converted try late in the game to secure the win.
– Reigning champions Connacht, with Quinn Roux at No 5 lock, ground out a 14-9 win over the Newport Gwent Dragons at the Sportsground. Wing Pat Howard, scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius, lock Ligtoring Landman and prop Brok Harris did service for Glasgow.
FRENCH TOP 14
– Outside centre Paul Jordaan and his La Rochelle teammates defeated Stade Français 37-18 at home. Prop Heinke van der Merwe, eighthman Jono Ross and flyhalf Morné Steyn started for Stade, with Ross crossing for a try and Steyn adding a conversion and a penalty. La Rochelle second in the standings are 18 rounds, while Stade are 11th.
– Racing clinched a hard-fought and much needed 33-25 win against Brive in Paris on Saturday. Lock Gerbrandt Grobler and No 8 Antonie Claassen played for Racing, with the former scoring their first try. Locks Johan Snyman and Jan Uys and No 8 Paul Hauman started for Brive.
– Lock Hendrik Roodt, scrumhalf Charl McLeod and fullback Gio Aplon were on duty for Grenoble who suffered a 39-22 loss against hosts Pau. Despite the result, Grenoble are still three log points ahead of Bayonne, who are chained to the foot of the standings.
– Clermont's 46-27 bonus-point win against Bayonne, saw them eclipse La Rochelle at the top of the log. The first and second placed teams are level on 58 points, but Clermont have a better points differential. Former Springbok lock Flip van der Merwe came off the bench to play a 10-minute cameo for Clermont.
– Springbok duo Bryan Habana and Juan Smith both crossed the line to score crucial tries for Toulon, who edged Lyon 31-17 at home. They played alongside fellow Boks Duane Vermeulen, Juandré Kruger and Marcel van der Merwe, with captain Vermeulen serving 10 minute in the sin bin. Lyon started with a former Springbok of their own in the form of prop BJ Botha.
– Prop Dan Kötze and scrumhalf Rory Kockott turned out for Castres, who beat Steven Kitshoff's Bordeaux 29-17. The win keeps Castres in fourth place on the log, while Bordeaux are now ninth.
– Lock Paul Willemse kept up his good run of form with another try in Montpellier's 27-18 triumph over Toulouse. Willemse started in tandem with fellow lock Jacques du Plessis, while flyhalf Willie du Plessis made his Montpellier debut off the bench, kicking three conversions and two penalties. Prop Maks van Dyk and Gurthrö Steenkamp featured for Toulouse.
Photo: Ulster Rugby/Dickson Digital
