SARugbymag.co.za looks back at the past weekend's European Champions Cup and European Challenge Cup matches, which involved South African players.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP
Pool 1
– Munster made it two from two, with a 14-3 win over Saracens. No 8 CJ Stander and prop BJ Botha were in Munster's starting XV and ex-Stormers wing Gerhard van den Heever an unused substitute. Former Sharks centre Brad Barritt captained Sarries, with ex-Bok scrumhalf Neil de Kock and prop Petrus du Plessis starting alongside him. Lock Mouritz Botha came off Saracens' bench in the 63rd minute.
– Prop Daniel Kötze came on as impact player in the 69th minute for Clermont, who outclassed the Sale Sharks 35-3. The bonus-point win places Clermont in second place on the log behind Munster, while the English teams, Sarries and Sale, linger in third and fourth respectively.
Pool 2
– Former Bok flank Ashley Johnson started for London Wasps, who suffered a 23-16 home defeat against neighbours Harlequins.
– Like Harlequins, Leinster remained unbeaten with a 21-16 win against Castres in France. Former Bok fullback Zane Kirchner was recalled to Leinster's run-on team, while hooker Richardt Strauss played from the 69th minute.
Pool 3
– Toulon beat Ulster 23-13 at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast, with Bok wing Bryan Habana crossing over for their first try. Scrumhalf Michael Claassens made his return to the winners' starting team. Ex-Sharks fullback Louis Ludik, flank Robbie Diack, lock Franco van der Merwe and prop Wiehahn Herbst were all on duty for Ulster and hooker Rob Herring joined in the 77th minute. Toulon's Boks Juan Smith and Bakkies Botha came on in the second and 50th minutes respectively and hooker Craig Burden in the 69th. Habana was yellow-carded in the final minute of the match.
– The Llanelli Scarlets, with lock Johan Snyman in their starting XV, beat Leicester 15-3. Lock Sebastian De Chaves came off the wood for Leicester in the 67th minute. Both teams have won and lost a game in this pool, but the Scarlets are in second place ahead of Leicester on points difference.
Pool 4
– Ex-Lions No 8 Josh Strauss led the Glasgow Warriors to an impressive 15-13 victory over hosts Montpellier. Former Cheetahs centre Robert Ebersohn was named in Montpellier's run-on side and spent 10 minutes in the sin bin for kicking the ball away at a ruck from an offside position. Wing DTH van der Merwe and prop Rossouw de Klerk did service for Glasgow from the 25th and 80th minutes respectively, while ex-Bok centre Wynand Olivier failed to make an appearance off the Montpellier bench.
– Bath slumped to a 21-19 loss at the hands of Toulouse, who had Bok prop Gurthrö Steenkamp in their run-on team. Steenkamp was joined by former Bok and Bulls teammate, scrumhalf Jano Vermaak, in the 66th minute. Glasgow top the pool four standings, followed by Toulouse, Montpellier and Bath.
Pool 5
– Racing Métro maintained their 100% record in this pool, by toppling Treviso 26-19. No 8 Antonie Claassen, flank Bernard le Roux, lock Juandré Kruger and prop Brian Mujati started for Racing and teammate Johan Goosen played in the final four minutes. Flank Meyer Swanepoel was on duty for Treviso.
– The Northampton Saints thumped the Neath-Swansea Ospreys 34-6 at Franklin's Gardens. Wing Hanno Dirksen was in the Ospreys' starting XV and lock Reynier Bernardo came on as a substitute in the 63rd minute. Racing top the pool on eight points, while the Saints and Ospreys are second and third on five points each. Treviso are fourth without a single point.
EUROPEAN CHALLENGE CUP
Pool 1
– Grenoble, with ex-Stormers fullback Gio Aplon and former Sharks lock Ross Skeate in their run-on side, suffered a second defeat in as many matches, this time a 25-15 loss to London Irish. Prop Albertus Buckle and lock Hendrik Roodt completed Grenoble's match-day squad.
Pool 2
– The Exeter Chiefs claimed a comfortable 33-13 victory over Connacht. Former WP teammates, lock Don Armand and wing Danie Poolman, played for the Chiefs and Connacht respectively.
– La Rochelle recorded a shock 25-13 win over French rivals Bayonne. Lock Cobus Grobler turned out for the winners, while props JC Janse van Rensburg and Gert Muller represented Bayonne.
Pool 3
– Newcastle staged a great comeback to defeat the Newport Gwent Dragons 30-26. Former Cheetahs lock Ligtoring Landman was retained in the Dragons' starting team.
– Bok flyhalf Morné Steyn kicked two penalties and a conversion to help Stade Français to a 13-9 win over Bucharest Wolves. Fullback Eugene Jantjies and flank Johan van Heerden turned out for the Wolves. Both teams occupy the bottom two spots on the log, behind Newcastle and the Dragons.
Pool 4
– Ex-Sharks lock Anton Bresler and former Cheetahs prop WP Nel played for Edinburgh, who consolidated their top position in this pool with a scrappy 25-17 win over Lyon. Lock Connie Basson captained Lyon.
– Lock Jandré Marais and his Bordeaux teammates lashed London Welsh 52-20, outscoring their hosts seven tries to two. No 8 Ben Pienaar was listed as one of the Welsh substitutes.
Pool 5
– Fullback Riaan Smit kicked four penalties, but it wasn't enough to prevent Oyonnax from going down 25-15 against Gloucester. Ex-Bok eighthman Pedrie Wannenburg and former Sharks hooker Jody Jenneker played alongside Smit for Oyonnax.
– Zebre put in an impressive performance to stun Brive 26-21. Ex-Cheetahs teammates, fullback Hennie Daniller and lock Andries Ferreira, were in the Italians' run-on team. Former Sharks centre Riaan Swanepoel scored a try and two conversions for Brive, while lock Peet Marais started alongside him.
Compiled by Mariette Adams
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
