SARugbymag.co.za looks back at the past weekend's French Top 14, English Premiership, Celtic Pro12 matches, which involved South African players.
FRENCH TOP 14
– Morné Steyn contributed 23 points (seven penalties and a conversion) to guide Stade Français to a 28-19 win over Paris neighbours Racing Métro. Stade were dealt a massive blow inside the opening 20 minutes, when Sergio Parisse was given a straight red card, but Steyn, who made a rare start, kept them in the contest with his accurate kicking. Prop Heinke van Merwe and centre Meyer Bosman lined-up alongside Steyn, while Jono Ross and Gerhard Mostert completed the match 23. For Racing, Francois van der Merwe, Juandré Kruger and Antonie Claassen started, with Brian Mujati among the substitutes.
– Scrumhalf Rory Kockott scored one of three tries for Castres, but it wasn't enough as they went down 37-21 to defending champions Toulon. Eighthman Jannie Bornman also earned a starting berth for Castres, who occupy 13th spot.
– Toulouse ran in nine tries and conceded just one in their demolition job of Brive. Gurthrö Steenkamp was named in the winners' run-on XV, but it was his replacement Schalk Ferreira who barged over the line for their sixth try of the afternoon. Scrumhalf Jano Vermaak was used from the 70th minute. Lock Peet Marais and prop Johannes Coetzee represented Brive.
– Hosts Lyon salvaged a 16-16 draw with La Rochelle, courtesy of a late penalty goal. Ricky Januarie, Coenie Basson and Frans Viljoen featured for the soon-to-be-relegated Lyon. La Rochelle used Peter Grant and Jacobus Grobler as impact players from the 45th and 61st minutes respectively.
– Centre Robert Ebersohn and prop Pat Cilliers turned out for Montpellier in their 33-16 win against Bayonne, who had prop Gert Muller and fullback Scott Spedding in their lineup. Ebersohn scored a try in the final minute to wrap up the result.
– Former Bulls duo Heini Adams and Ulrich Beyers, along with Jandré Marais completed the Bordeaux team who beat Oyonnax 26-23. Hooker Jody Jenneker scrummed down for Oyonnax and flanks Ruaan du Preez and Pedrie Wannenburg were on the bench.
– Despite tries from lock Hendrik Roodt and prop Albertus Buckle, Grenoble lost 37-17 to Clermont. Roodt, wing Gio Aplon and scrumhalf Charl McLeod earned starting berths for Grenoble, while Buckle and Ross Skeate were introduced in the 53rd and 56th minutes respectively.
ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP
– Bok flank Francois Louw scored one of three tries to guide Bath to a 27-26 away win over Harlequins at the Stoop. The result sees Bath retain second position on the Premiership table.
– Tighthead prop Richard Palframan was in London Irish's starting XV that lost 35-13 to Gloucester, who played with 14 men from the 23rd minute.
– The Leicester Tigers ended Wasps' hopes of reaching the play-offs with a 26-21 win in Coventry. Flank Ashley Johnson started on the side of the scrum for Wasps. The winners moved up to third on the log.
– Saracens, with prop Petrus du Plessis, hooker Schalk Brits, lock Alistair Hargreaves and scrumhalf Neil de Kock in their match 23, slumped to a surprise 24-20 home defeat against the Exeter Chiefs. The result leaves Sarries in danger of missing out on a place in the knockout stage, after Exeter leapfrogged them into fourth place.
CELTIC PRO12
– Prop Jacobie Adriaanse and lock George Earle turned out for the Llanelli Scarlets in their 16-6 victory over the Cardiff Blues at Parc y Scarlets stadium.
– Danie Poolman's Connacht scored six tries to thump hosts Zebre 40-10. Eighthman Dries van Schalkwyk and lock Quintin Geldenhuys represented the Italian outfit, who are rooted to the foot of the standings.
– Fullback Louis Ludik, scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar, No 8 Robbie Diack, lock Franco van der Merwe, prop Wiehahn Herbst and hooker Rob Herring featured for Ulster in their 23-23 draw with Munster in Belfast. Eigthman CJ Stander and prop BJ Botha played for Munster.
– The Neath-Swansea Ospreys beat the Glasgow Warriors 21-10 at the Liberty Stadium to climb to the top of the Pro12 log. Former Lions captain Josh Strauss started at the back of the scrum for the Warriors, who slipped to second position.
– Leinster, with Zane Kirchner and hooker Richardt Strauss in their ranks, laboured to a 10-0 victory at home over Benetton Treviso. Lock Corniel van Zyl played for Treviso until the 52nd minute, while replacement flank Meyer Swanepoel made an appearance shortly thereafter.
– The Newport-Gwent Dragons defeated Edinburgh 19-5 at Rodney Parade. Dragons tighthead prop Brok Harris got the better of his opponent WP Nel, with the latter receiving a yellow card for illegal scrummaging. Andries Strauss, Cornell du Preez and Anton Bresler were the others who did duty alongside Nel, while Ligtoring Landman turned out for the winners.
Compiled by Mariette Adams
Photo: Thomas Samson/AFP Photo
