SARugbymag.co.za looks back at the past weekend's Anglo-Welsh Cup and French Top 14 matches, which involved South African players.
ANGLO-WELSH CUP
– Lock George Earle captained the Llanelli Scarlets in their 24-7 defeat against the Northampton Saints. The Scarlets, who went into the break level at 7-7, used ex-Lions prop Jacobie Adriaanse from the 52nd minute. But the visitors cut loose in the second period to easily dispatch their Welsh counterparts.
– Saracens were made to work hard for their 21-9 win over the Neath-Swansea Ospreys. Former Maties eighthman Nick de Jager started for Sarries, while wing Hanno Dirksen played for the Ospreys.
– Young Sharks flyhalf Tim Swiel fired Harlequins to a 31-21 victory over the Newport Gwent Dragons with two conversions and four penalties, to notch up a personally tally of 16 points.
– The Exeter Chiefs, with ex-Western Province flank Don Armand in their run-on XV, scored two tries to beat Bath 18-9 at Sandy Park.
– London Irish suffered a second successive defeat in the competition, going down 43-22 to Wasps at Adams Park. Former Bok loose forward Ashley Johnson was in the match-day squad for Wasps.
– London Welsh slumped to a 10th consecutive defeat in all competitions. No 8 Ben Pienaar started for Welsh, who lost 18-9 to Gloucester in front of their home fans.
FRENCH TOP 14
– An impressive performance from Castres saw Toulon crash to a 22-14 defeat. Flank Gerhard Vosloo and scrumhalf Michael Claassens donned the red shirts of Toulon, while flank Jannie Bornman warmed the bench for Castres.
– After Toulon's hiccup, Clermont thrashed Stade Français 51-9 to regain top spot on the log. Prop Daniel Kötze played for the winners in the final 10 minutes, while centre Meyer Bosman and lock Gerhard Mostert represented Stade.
– Brive stunned a full-strength Montpellier side 25-15 at the Altrad Stadium. South African centres Robert Ebersohn and Wynand Olivier featured in Montpellier's midfield and lock Peet Marais and eighthman Paul Hauman scrummed down for Brive. Brive used prop Kevin Buys and flyhalf Riaan Swanepoel as reinforcements from the 61st and 77th minutes respectively.
– Forwards Pedrie Wannenburg and Jody Jeneker and utility back Riaan Smit played for Oyonnax, who overpowered La Rochelle 37-9. Jenneker scored one of five tries and Smit booted a conversion. Lock Jacobus Grobler and flyhalf Peter Grant both earned starting berths for La Rochelle.
– With lock Juandré Kruger and No 8 Antonie Claassen in the team, Racing Métro beat Bayonne 27-10. Props Gert Muller and JC Janse van Rensburg were in Bayonne's front row, while prop Brian Mujati and lock Francois van der Merwe were unused Racing substitutes.
– In a game involving seven Saffas, Grenoble returned to winning ways with a 34-30 victory over Lyon. Wing Gio Aplon, scrumhalf Charl McLeod, locks Hendrik Roodt and Paul Willemse, and prop Albertus Buckle were on duty for the victors. Ex-Stormers teammates Ricky Januarie and Deon Fourie did service for Lyon.
– Locks Berend Botha and Jandré Marais and former Bulls scrumhalf Heini Adams represented Bordeaux, who went down 21-20 to Toulouse in an exciting match at the Stade Jacques Chaban-Delmas.
Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
