Saffas Abroad: Du Preez has last laugh in Bok duel

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Catch up on the weekend’s action involving South African players in the English Premiership and French Top 14, including the showdown between Springbok playmakers Handre Pollard and Rob du Preez.

Premiership:

– Flyhalf Handre Pollard dotted down in his maiden start for a Hanro Liebenberg-led Leicester Tigers after pouncing on a loose pass from Sale Sharks rival Rob du Preez on Friday.

Pollard was making his long-awaited return from injury, but was withdrawn early in the second half before Du Preez had the final say, the one-cap Bok scoring 18 points that included a last-minute try as Sale demolished Leicester 40-5 at Salford City Stadium.

Akker van der Merwe, Jean-Luc du Preez, Nick Schonert, Jono Ross and Cobus Wiese also featured for the Sharks.

WATCH: Bok gifts Pollard his first Prem try

– On Saturday, Johannes Jonker, Louis Schreuder and Chris Cloete played off the bench for Bath under the eye of head coach Johann van Graan in a 26-16 win against Newcastle Falcons, Sebastian de Chaves starting in the second row for the visitors at The Recreation Ground.

– No 8 Ruan Ackermann was on the right side of a narrow 8-6 victory for Gloucester over London Irish at Kingsholm Stadium, with former Stormers and EP Kings hooker Mike Willemse opposing him for the Exiles.

– In London, scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl delivered a workmanlike performance for Saracens in a resounding 35-3 win against Exeter Chiefs.

– The quartet of Andre Esterhuizen, Wilco Louw, Simon Kerrod and Jordan Els could not help Harlequins avoid a demoralising 46-17 defeat to Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens on Sunday.

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Top 14:
– Forgotten Bok centre Jan Serfontein and SA-born France lock Paul Willemse, returned to Montpellier on Friday humbled by a 40-10 hammering in Bordeaux.

– On Saturday, outside centre Raymond Rhule featured while fullback Dillyn Leyds soared over the whitewash for La Rochelle during a 29-10 triumph on the road against Perpignan.

– No 13 Jeremy Ward scored a five-pointer in a convincing 37-3 win for Stade Francais over Pau, while prop Marcel van der Merwe claimed bragging rights in his meeting with former Vodacom Bulls teammate Arno Botha as Brive edged Lyon 30-27.

– Bok prop Trevor Nyakane enjoyed a share of the spoils in a 26-26 draw between Racing 92 and Castres, but there was no joy for World Cup-winning teammate Cheslin Kolbe, whose Toulon side went down 23-18 to Bayonnais. Uzair Cassiem started at the back of the scrum for the victors.

– And on Sunday, the ever-physical Rynhardt Elstadt was yellow-carded coming off the bench in a 32-13 win for Toulouse against Clermont at Stade Marcel-Michelin.

WATCH: Etzebeth smashes scrumhalf

Photo: @BBCScrumV/Twitter

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Devin Hermanus