Saffas Abroad: Am’s Japan debut ends in disappointment

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Here’s a wrap of all the action involving South African players in England, France and Japan, including how Lukhanyo Am’s debut for Kobe Steelers went.

Japan League One

– Gerhard van den Heever scored 14 points as Kubota Spears claimed a 34-3 victory over league-strugglers Red Hurricanes.

Van den Heever scored a second-half try, to go with three conversions and a penalty for Spears, who also had locks Ruan Botha and David Bulbring in their starting lineup.

Johan Ackermann‘s Red Hurricanes, currently bottom of the table after winning just one of their nine games, were captained by hooker Franco Marais and also fielded Vodacom Bulls-bound lock Ruan Vermaak and former Sharks flank Tyler Paul.

– Suntory Sungoliath kept themselves on top of the table with a 40-27 bonus-point win over fourth-placed Canon Eagles.

Former Stormers fullback SP Marais, who started for Eagles, went head to head with All Blacks playmaker Damian McKenzie. Marais scored 17 points, which included a self-converted try and two penalties, while McKenzie scored 20 points.

No 8 Kobus van Wyk also scored for Eagles, who had Springbok Jesse Kriel at outside centre.

– Kwagga Smith scored but could not prevent the Blue Revs from letting a 15-3 lead slip to lose 26-25 to Wild Knights.

– Lukhanyo Am‘s debut for Kobe Steel ended in disappointment as his side fell to a 46-35 loss to Brave Lupus. In his first start since joining Kobe on loan, Am put in an excellent individual performance, but his side could not give him a winning start to life in Japan.

Am was at outside centre for Kobe in a starting lineup which also included former Stormers lock JD Schickerling.

– Lionel Cronje‘s excellent form in League One continued as he scored 14 points to help Toyota Verblitz claim an 36-10 away win against Green Rockets.

Cronje scored three conversions, a penalty and a try as Verblitz bounced back from two successive losses. Springbok flank Pieter-Steph du Toit also started for Verblitz, who had fullback Willie le Roux on the bench.

Top 14

– Eben Etzebeth scored for Toulon as the Top 14 giants claimed a crucial 32-22 victory over Clermont, to continue their upturn in form since the new year.

The Springbok lock showed great agility and strength to shrug off a couple of tackles and reach over from short range to score for Toulon, who have won three of their past five games.

Etzebeth’s Springbok teammate Cheslin Kolbe played the full 80 minutes on the right wing for Toulon, making 39 metres with ball in hand.

After overcoming a terrible start to the season last year, Toulon are now in ninth place on the Top 14 log and just eight points outside the top six.

– Pau put further space between themselves and the relegation zone by beating second-from-bottom Perpignan 27-22.

Flyhalf Tristan Tedder started and kicked a conversion and penalty for Perpignan, who are in 13th place, seven points from safety.

– South African-born France lock Paul Willemse made a stylish return from Six Nations duty to help Montpellier continue their run at the top of the standings with a 37-22 win over bottom-placed Biarritz.

Willemse scored a try in each half for Montpellier to help them claim a full house of points against the wooden-spoonists.

Springbok forward Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg was the only other South African involved in the game, as he started at blindside flank for Montpellier.

– La Rochelle bounced back from last weekend’s loss to Toulon by holding on to beat Racing 92 19-0 in a tough encounter.

Flank Wiaan Liebenberg started for La Rochelle, who had Springbok Raymond Rhule on the left wing.

La Rochelle are in a good run of form, winning four of their past five games as they sit in fourth place on the table.

Premiership

– Wasps scored a 76th-minute penalty to seal a 27-24 win over Newcastle Falcons on Saturday.

Former Sharks scrumhalf Louis Schreuder was the only South African involved in the match, as he played 65 minutes for Newcastle.

– Saracens overcame Bristol Bears 27-23 in a thrilling contest at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Vincent Koch started for Saracens and the Springbok tighthead prop made four tackles and two carries as he completed the full 80 minutes.

Watch: Farrell under fire for no-arms tackle

– Northampton Saints scored six tries to notch a big 42-22 victory away to London Irish on Saturday.

No 8 Juarno Augustus and Springbok wing Courtnall Skosan both started for Northampton and both played the full match.

London Irish had Benhard Janse van Rensburg in their starting lineup at inside centre.

– Bath let a 21-7 half-time lead slip to draw 24-24 with a Sale Sharks team featuring a plethora of South Africans.

Tighthead prop Coenie Oosthuizen, locks Jean-Luc du Preez and Lood de Jager, captain Jono Ross, No 8 Dan du Preez, scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, flyhalf Robert du Preez and inside centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg all started for Sale, who also had JP du Preez and Cobus Wiese on the bench.

Janse van Rensburg and Dan du Preez both scored a try each for Sale as they launched a second-half comeback, but De Klerk missed a potential winning penalty in the 80th minute.

Hooker Jacques du Toit was the only South African involved in the match for Bath.

– Two tries from England wing Chris Ashton helped Leicester Tigers survive a second-half fightback to beat Exeter Chiefs 22-17 on Sunday.

Jasper Wiese had an outstanding match at No 8 for Leicester. The Springbok loose forward made 40m from 11 carries and 18 tackles, while he also won a turnover, beat five defenders, made a linebreak and stole a lineout.

Playing alongside Wiese in the loose trio, Hanro Liebenberg made an impressive 21 tackles. Eli Snyman started at lock for Leicester and played 49 minutes.

Exeter had flank Jacques Vermeulen in their starting lineup.

Photo: Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images

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Dylan Jack