SARugbymag.co.za looks back at the past weekend's English Premiership, Celtic Pro12 and Six Nations matches, involving South African players.
ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP
– Bath suffered a third consecutive defeat after going down 15-11 against Gloucester at the Recreation Ground. Bok Francois Louw started on the side of the scrum for Bath, who are ninth on the log and 27 points behind the log leaders.
– A stoppage-time try handed the Northampton Saints a dramatic 27-23 victory over Harlequins at The Stoop. The hosts, featuring Tim Swiel, looked to have secured the result, but the Saints had one last opportunity to attack, which they took to end Quins' perfect record at home.
– The Newcastle Falcons were left to regret three missed penalty kicks, after being beaten 9-8 by Wasps at the Ricoh Arena. Hooker Ashley Johnson was named on the Wasps bench, while lock Mouritz Botha completed the Falcons' match-day squad.
– Prop Brian Mujati's Sale Sharks ended the Leicester Tigers' unbeaten streak at Welford Road this season with a hard-fought 10-3 victory. The Tigers, who brought on lock Sebastian de Chaves in the second half, remain third on the table, while Sale are ranked seventh.
– A last-gasp penalty saw Saracens clinch a 14-11 win over the Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park. The win will be especially pleasing for Sarries after the Chiefs did the double over them last season. Centre Brad Barritt, prop Petrus du Plessis and hooker Schalk Brits turned out for the table-topping winners, while flank Don Armand represented the second-placed Chiefs.
– London Irish picked up a much-needed 20-13 win against the Worcester Warriors to move off the bottom of the standings. Centre Wynand Olivier, No 8 Gerrit-Jan van Velze and tighthead prop Nic Schonert played for the visiting Warriors, who are now just one point ahead of their conquerors on the log.
CELTIC PRO12
– A late penalty saw Ulster snatch a nervy 17-15 victory over the Newport Gwent Dragons at the Kingspan Stadium to move to the summit of the standings after 13 rounds. Ulster fullback Louis Ludik was upstaged by his opposite number, Carl Meyer, who scored the Dragons' first try. Lock Ligtoring Landman and prop Brok Harris joined Meyer in the visitors' starting lineup, with scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius seated on the bench. For Ulster, scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar, flank Robbie Diack and hooker Rob Herring were also on duty.
SIX NATIONS
– No 8 Dries van Schalkwyk came on early in the first half to make his Test debut for Italy against France in Paris. Les Bleus won the match 23-21.
– Scotland, with WP Nel at tighthead, lost 15-9 to England at Murrayfield.
– Loose forward CJ Stander won the Man of the Match award in his maiden Test for his adopted nation Ireland in their 16-16 draw with Wales in Dublin. Stander made 23 carries and won two penalties at the breakdown.
Compiled by Mariette Adams
Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images
