Here’s a wrap of all the action involving overseas-based South African players in the Champions and Challenge Cup, including how Dillyn Leyds helped La Rochelle make the perfect start.
Champions Cup
Pool A
– Springbok prop Trevor Nyakane was part of the Racing 92 side that suffered a 42-10 loss to Irish giants Leinster on Saturday. Springbok lock Jason Jenkins started for Leinster and played 54 minutes.
– Exeter Chiefs capitalised on a dominant second-half performance to claim a vital 27-12 away win against French side Castres on Saturday night. Former Sharks lock Ruben van Heerden played 16 minutes off the bench for Exeter.
– Saracens marked their return to the Heineken Champions Cup with a bonus-point win as they defeated Edinburgh 30-26 in a thrilling encounter at StoneX Stadium on Sunday. Ivan van Zyl started for Saracens. Winger Wes Goosen and prop Luan de Bruin scored Edinburgh’s tries. Duhan van der Merwe, Pierre Schoeman and WP Nel were also in action for Edinburgh.
Pool B
– Montpellier came from behind to beat London Irish 32-27 in the opening fixture of the season on Friday night. Cobus Reinach started for Montpellier and got the comeback started with a try in the 46th minute. To go with his try, Reinach also made five carries and 42 passes in his 58 minutes on the field. Benhard Janse van Rensburg continued his fine form as London Irish’s inside centre, playing the full 80 minutes and making 10 carries, 13 tackles and three turnovers.
– Dillyn Leyds dotted down as La Rochelle started the defence of their Champions Cup title by thrashing Northampton Saints 46-12. Leyds scored just before half time as the defending champions ran up a 46-0 lead, before conceding two late tries. Juarno Augustus made a good impact off the bench in the final 18 minutes of the match, making a massive 68 metres from six carries.
– The Du Preez brothers stole the show as Sale Sharks romped to a 39-0 victory over Ulster on Sunday. Dan du Preez and Robert du Preez both scored a try each, with the flyhalf adding three conversions and a penalty. On the other hand, it was a game to forget for Ulster’s Duane Vermeulen, who made nine tackles, but was yellow-carded in the first half. Jean-Luc du Preez made 10 tackles for Sale, while lock Cobus Wiese, hooker Akker van der Merwe and flank Jono Ross were also in action for the home side.
– Leicester Tigers’ Champions Cup campaign began with a battling 23-17 win against Ospreys in Swansea on Sunday. Leicester captain Harno Liebenberg made 10 carries and four tackles, winning one turnover. Lock Eli Snyman came off the bench for the Tigers.
Challenge Cup
Pool A
– Glasgow Warriors needed a penalty in the 73rd minute to beat Bath 22-19. Wesley White started and scored a try for Bath. The son of Vodacom Bulls coach Jake, he started at blindside flank and played 71 minutes, making 12 tackles and seven carries. Wing Kyle Steyn, lock JP du Preez and young loosehead prop Nathan McBeth played for Glasgow.
– Connacht started their campaign with a 22-8 win over Newcastle Falcons. Tian Schoeman started at flyhalf for Newcastle and kicked one penalty.
– Toulon battled to a 24-21 win against a stubborn Zebre Parma side in their opening Challenge Cup game on Saturday evening. Kobus van Wyk started on the right wing for Zebre and scored a try as the hosts threatened to cause an upset. Former Lions flank MJ Pelser and substitute Franco Smith were also in action for Zebre.
Pool B
– Jeremy Ward scored a crucial try for Stade Francais, who came from behind to beat Benetton 24-14. Ward and scrumhalf James Hall both played off the bench and combined to create a try in the second half. JJ van der Mescht started at lock for Stade and gained 39 metres from 10 carries.
– Scarlets kicked off their Challenge Cup campaign in style as they thrashed Aviron Bayonnais 39-7 at Parc y Scarlets on Sunday. No 8 Uzair Cassiem played 62 minutes off the bench for Bayonne.
Photo: XAVIER LEOTY/AFP via Getty Images
