Saffas go big in English Premiership

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Lock David Ribbans, the Du Preez twins, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Vincent Koch and several others put in standout performances in round 18 of the English Premiership this weekend.

– Francois Venter, Francois Hougaard, Cornell du Preez, Anton Bresler, Nic Schonert and Richard Palframan all featured for the Worcester Warriors in their 36-13 loss to the third-ranked Bristol Bears. The result left the Warriors in 10th position on the log.


– The Sale Sharks outlasted the Leicester Tigers to claim a riveting 40-31 win at Welford Road. Centre Jaco Taute and No 8 Hanro Liebenberg, who scored a try, started for the Tigers, who are languishing in 11th spot on the log. Sale had Rohan Janse van Rensburg (eight tackles, nine carries, five defenders beaten, two clean breaks, 60 run metres and a try assist), Dan du Preez (nine tackles, one turnover, two defenders beaten), Lood de Jager (two lineout steals, five tackles, 12 carries and 21m gained), Jean-Luc du Preez (eight tackles, one turnover, nine carries, one offload, two defenders beaten and 24m gained), Faf de Klerk (60 passes, 14 kicks, four carries, two try assists, a penalty kick and a drop goal), Jono Ross (five passes, six carries, one defender beaten, 13 run metres, 11 tackles and one try), Coenie Oosthuizen (four run metres, three carries and three passes) and Akker van der Merwe (14m gained, five carries, two passes and three tackles).

– Michael Rhodes, Brad Barritt and Vincent Koch were all in the 14-man Saracens lineup that suffered a 28-18 defeat by Wasps. Despite the result, Koch put in a good 57-minute shift, as he made six carries, ran 10m, made seven tackles and accounted for one turnover. Juan de Jongh started at outside centre for Wasps, who moved up to fourth on the log.

– Harlequins, with replacement lock Stephan Lewies in their ranks, were thrashed 41-27 by Bath. Quins dropped to eighth in the standings, while Bath remain fifth.

– Forwards Franco Marais, Corne Fourie and Ruan Ackermann turned out for Gloucester in their stunning 36-23 victory over London Irish. Lock Sebastian de Chaves, who made 10 tackles over 80 minutes, played for London Irish.

– Lock David Ribbans’ two-try performance for the Northampton Saints was in vain as they slumped to an agonising 22-19 loss against title-favourites Exeter Chiefs.  Ribbans was joined in Saints’ starting lineup by prop Francois van Wyk, who made seven carries, five passes, 27 run metres, one offload and 15 tackles. Flank Shaun Adendorff was used as a substitute by Northampton. Loose forwards Don Armand and Jannes Kirsten played for Exeter, with the latter crossing for a try to go with his 13 tackles, two lineout steals, 13 carries, 25 run metres and a turnover.

Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images

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