SARugbymag.co.za looks back at the South African players who featured for their respective clubs in the second round of the 2020-21 French Top 14 season.
– Stade Français, with scrumhalf James Hall in their ranks, secured a hard-fought 20-3 win against bottom-feeders Agen, who’ve now lost their four opening games. Stade are in ninth position on the log.
– Wing Dillyn Leyds scored one of four tries as La Rochelle clinched a 36-19 bonus-point win over Bayonne. The victory elevated La Rochelle up four places from seventh to third in the standings.
A 60-metre beaut from @dill10leyds ? #SaffasAbroad pic.twitter.com/oSMWyGGeNp
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) October 12, 2020
– Montpellier’s poor start to the season continued as they slumped to an agonising 25-21 defeat by Toulon – their third straight loss. Lock Eben Etzebeth put in a 46-minute shift for Toulon before he was substituted. His fellow Springboks Cobus Reinach and Bismarck du Plessis as well as lock Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg turned out for Montpellier, who are 13th in the standings. Reinach scored one of Montpellier’s two tries.
A brilliant support line from @c_reinach to score on his first start for @MHR_officiel pic.twitter.com/uIFJ8wrd5X
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) October 12, 2020
– Toulouse continued their strong start to the campaign with an exciting 30-24 triumph over hosts Racing 92. Playing fullback, Cheslin Kolbe was again at the heart of this Toulouse victory as he dove over for one of their three tries. Toulouse are now back at the top of the table.
4⃣Tries in 4⃣ #TOP14 games for Kolbe so far this season ? pic.twitter.com/2xyNmAEueH
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) October 12, 2020
– In what could arguably be rated as the game of the round, Pau scored a converted try in the 80th minute to seal a riveting 29-29 draw with Lyon. Lourens Adriaanse was used as the replacement tighthead prop for Pau, who moved up to second on the log following this result.