Saffas Abroad: Fit-again Vermeulen sparks Exeter

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SARugbymag.co.za wraps all the action involving South African players in England, France and Japan, and looks at Jacques Vermeulen’s Man of the Match performance in his first game back after a 10-month injury layoff.

United Rugby Championship

– Fullback Henry Immelman scored a brace as Edinburgh put eight tries past Connacht in a 56-8 win.

Immelman was joined in Edinburgh’s starting lineup by loosehead prop Boan Venter, while flyhalf Jaco van der Walt was a substitute.

– Flank Chris Cloete scored two tries as Munster put Dragons to the sword in a 64-3 10-try victory.

Lock Jean Kleyn also started for Munster, who are third on the table, nine points away from league leaders Leinster.

– Leinster were also involved in a big win this past weekend, hammering Italian side Benetton 61-17 to continue their run at the top of the table.

Hooker Corniel Els, lock Carl Wegner, wing Rhyno Smith and fullback Andries Coetzee all started for Benetton, who had flank Braam Steyn on the bench.

English Premiership

– A Harlequins team featuring four Springboks eased to a 24-10 victory over Newcastle Falcons at Twickenham Stoop on Friday night.

Andre Esterhuizen, Tyrone Green, captain Stephan Lewies and tighthead prop Wilco Louw all started for Harlequins. Esterhuizen was the pick of the lot, making 11 carries, 12 tackles and beating five defenders, while Green picked up a try assist.

– Bath lifted themselves off the bottom of the table for the first time this season as an 84th-minute try gave them a dramatic comeback 29-27 victory over Bristol Bears, after trailing 24-5 at half time.

Jaco Coetzee was on the bench for Bath and came on in the 56th minute. During his 28 minutes of game time, Coetzee made seven carries, five tackles and beat two defenders. Hooker Jacques du Toit was also on the bench for Bath.

– Ruan Ackermann and Juarno Augustus faced off as Gloucester claimed a 35-30 win over Northampton Saints in another come-from-behind victory on Saturday.

Playing at No 8 for Gloucester, Ackermann made 42 metres from 12 carries (the most of any Gloucester forward), nine tackles, won two turnovers and beat two defenders. Opposite number Augustus made 62m from 12 carries, 10 tackles, beat two defenders and made one clean break.

Wing Courtnall Skosan and lock David Ribbans also started for Northampton.

– London Irish punished 14-man Worcester Warriors, who lost Duhan van der Merwe to a red card in the second half, in a 43-12 win.

Scotland wing Van der Merwe, who started on the wing for Worcester, was controversially red-carded five minutes into the second half for using his arm to hand off a tackler.

Benhard Janse van Rensburg started for London Irish and put in a solid performance, making 16 tackles – the most of any London Irish back – and beating one defender.

– Vincent Koch scored a decisive try as Saracens closed the gap on the top with a 34-27 win over league leaders Leicester Tigers on Saturday.

Bok tighthead Koch dotted down two minutes into the second half to complete a good performance, which included 13 tackles and one linebreak.

Springbok loose forward Jasper Wiese played 30 minutes off the bench for Leicester, who have lock Eli Snyman in their starting lineup.

– Jacques Vermeulen made a brilliant return from a 10-month injury layoff by scoring two tries as Exeter Chiefs beat Sale Sharks 19-12.

In his first appearance of the season, Vermeulen scored twice in the first half and played an excellent 53 minutes, which included him making 10 tackles, winning a turnover and capturing a lineout. Lock Jannes Kirsten also started for Exeter and made 17 tackles, the joint most of any Chiefs player.

As usual, Sale had a host of South African players, including Daniel du Preez, Jean-Luc du Preez, Robert du Preez, Cobus Wiese, Jono Ross, Coenie Oosthuizen and Rohan Janse van Rensburg. Springbok lock Lood de Jager was originally named to start, but was ruled out due to ilness.

Top 14

– League leaders Bordeaux’s poor run of form continued as they were handed their fourth successive defeat in a 23-16 loss to Pau.

Despite playing for the losing side, Bok hooker Joseph Dweba put in a good 51-minute performance, which included 24 metres gained, four tackles and three linebreaks.

– Montpellier’s four-match unbeaten run ended after the club suffered a 25-9 loss to 14-man Castres on Saturday.

Without Springboks Cobus Reinach and Jan Serfontein, Montpellier only had lock Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg and prop Robert Rodgers on the bench.

Despite the loss, Montpellier are still in second place, one point behind Bordeaux with a game in hand on the league leaders.

– Cheslin Kolbe played 74 minutes as Toulon continued their good form in the new year with a 45-17 thrashing of Biarritz, to open the gap on the bottom-placed team.

Kolbe started on the left wing and made 24m with ball in hand. Also in action for Toulon was South African-born Scotland flank Cornell du Preez.

Biarritz had Brett Heron at flyhalf, who kicked a penalty and two conversions.

Having won three of their last five games, Toulon are now in 12th place with 36 points, 12 ahead of Biarritz.

– Perpignan provided one of the upsets of the round as the 13th-placed team claimed a 34-13 bonus-point win over fifth-placed Racing 92.

Flyhalf Tristan Tedder captained Perpignan and kicked four conversions and two penalties for a haul of 14 points.

Springbok tighthead prop Trevor Nyakane started for Racing and played 41 minutes, making four tackles.

– Dillyn Leyds scored a brace of tries to help La Rochelle keep up with the chasing pack by beating Brive 41-15 in a bonus-point victory.

The Springbok wing scored a try in each half, picked up a try assist and made a total of 96m as La Rochelle cut the gap on Bordeaux to just seven points.

Japan League One

– All Blacks utility back Damian McKenzie scored a hat-trick and a haul of 31 points to help Suntory Sungoliath hammer Kobe Steel 56-17.

JD Schickerling was the only South African starting for Kobe Steel and scored one of their three tries in the second half.

– Wild Knights continued their excellent run of form by claiming a 66-10 win over Red Hurricanes.

Former Sharks flank Tyler Paul started for the Johan Ackermann-coached Red Hurricanes, who are bottom of the table having lost five games in a row.

– Pieter-Steph du Toit put in a Man of the Match performance for Toyota Verblitz in their 31-22 win over Shining Arcs.

Du Toit and fellow South African Lionel Cronje both started for Verblitz, who bounced back from last week’s loss to Kubota Spears. Cronje converted all four of Verblitz’s tries.

– Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx scored his seventh try of the season as Kubota Spears continued their run at the top of the table by beating Blue Revs 30-24.

Marx was joined in Kubota’s starting lineup by fullback Gerhard van den Heever.

Kwagga Smith shifted from No 8 to flank for Blue Revs, who are in 10th place after winning two of their last five games.

– Fourth-placed Canon Eagles let an 18-7 second-half lead slip to lose 21-18 to sixth-placed Brave Lupus.

SP Marais at fullback and scored a try for Eagles, who had Springbok Jesse Kriel at outside centre.

Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images

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Dylan Jack