SARugbymag.co.za looks at the past weekend’s English Premiership, Top 14 and Pro14 semi-finals involving South African players.
English Premiership
– Willie le Roux‘s brace of tries was in vain as Wasps slumped to a 57-33 defeat against a Brad Barritt-lead Saracens, who reached the final in a dominant performance. Prop Vincent Koch scored one of Saracens’ six tries while both Schalk Brits and Michael Rhodes came off the bench for the winning side. Juan de Jongh started at outside centre for Wasps.
– Saracens will meet the Exeter Chiefs in the final after they put in an excellent showing to thump the Newcastle Falcons 36-5. Chiefs captain Don Armand put in a typically determined performance and scored their third try in the closing stages of the match. Former Sharks hooker Kyle Cooper started for Newcastle.
Top 14
– Fourteen-man Castres progressed to the final with a 23-11 victory against Toulouse, despite losing Jody Jenneker to a red card after the hooker struck a player at a ruck. Rory Kockott kicked two penalties for Castres, who also had prop Daniel Kotze in their starting XV. Ex-Stormers players Cheslin Kolbe and Rynhard Elstadt both started for Toulouse, while wing Wandile Mjekevu was unable to impact the game off the bench.
– Lyon will face Castres in the final despite drawing 19-19 with Toulon, going through on tries scored. Lock Hendrik Roodt put in a strong performance for Lyon, who brought locks Francois van der Merwe and Etienne Oosthuizen off the bench in the second half. Duane Vermeulen, Juandre Kruger and Marcel van der Merwe all started for Toulon.
Pro14
– The Scarlets outclassed the Glasgow Warriors 28-13 to book their place in the final. Prop Werner Kruger made a second-half appearance off the bench for the Scarlets, while experienced wing DTH van der Merwe was unable to score for Glasgow.
– Leinster kept their hopes of a double alive with a 16-15 win over Johann van Graan’s Munster, despite being outscored two tries to one. A late try from replacement lock Gerbrandt Grobler was unable to help Munster, who had CJ Stander and Jean Kleyn in their XV.
Compiled by Dylan Jack
Photo: Tony Marshall/Getty Images
