SARugbymag.co.za looks back at the past weekend's Celtic Pro12, French Top 14 and Anglo-Welsh Cup matches, which involved South African players.
CELTIC PRO12
– Former Lions No 8 Josh Strauss, wing DTH van der Merwe and prop Rossouw de Klerk featured in the Glasgow Warriors' scrappy 17-9 victory over Italian side Treviso.
– The Neath-Swansea Ospreys notched up their seventh successive victory with a hard-fought 26-11 win against Connacht. Ospreys No 5 lock Rynier Bernardo played directly against compatriot Quinn Roux of Connacht.
– Ex-Kings centre Andries Strauss captained Edinburgh against his brother Richardt Strauss's Leinster, who claimed a 33-8 bonus-point victory. Former Bok fullback Zane Kirchner started for the winners, while tighthead prop WP Nel was on duty for Edinburgh.
– Ulster bounced back from their 10-point defeat to Toulon last week, with a comfortable 23-6 win over the Newport Gwent Dragons. Ex-Shark Louis Ludik, lock Franco van der Merwe, tighthead Wiehahn Herbst and hooker Rob Herring starred for the Belfast outfit, while back rower Robbie Diack completed the match-day squad. Lock Ligtoring Landman led the Dragons.
– The Llanelli Scarlets, with locks Johan Snyman and George Earle and ex-Lions prop Jacobie Adriaanse in their team, overturned a half-time deficit to beat Zebre 28-13, despite Earle spending 10 minutes in the sin bin. Eighthman Andries van Schalkwyk and lock Quintin Geldenhuys played for the Italian side.
– Munster, with ex-Stormers wing Gerhard van den Heever, former Bulls flank CJ Stander and ex-Bok tighthead BJ Botha in their ranks, scored a late try to record a 28-24 away win against the Cardiff Blues.
FRENCH TOP 14
– In an ill-disciplined affair, Castres suffered a 21-15 defeat against Brive at the Stade Amédée-Domenech. Prop Kevin Buys and lock Paul Hauman were named in Brive's run-on XV and flyhalf Riaan Swanepoel came on as an injury-enforced substitute in the 29th minute. Lock Peet Marais was an unused replacement. No 8 Jannie Bornman represented Castres and was joined by scrumhalf Rory Kockott in the 62nd minute.
– Lyon suffered their first home defeat of the season as Toulouse blew them away to clinch an impressive 41-17 win. Bok prop Gurthrö Steenkamp started for Toulouse. Lock Coenie Basson and scrumhalf Ricky Januarie turned out for Lyon and hooker-cum-flank Deon Fourie came off the wood in the 68th minute.
– La Rochelle played for 30 minutes with 14 men, but still came out 21-15 victors over Montpellier. Ex-Stormers stalwart Peter Grant contributed with a penalty and was joined by lock Jacobus Grobler in the 56th. Centres Robert Ebersohn and Wynand Olivier started in tandem for Montpellier.
– Despite Johan Goosen's best efforts at fullback, Racing Métro went down 21-17 against Oyonnax. Goosen scored 10 of his team's 17 points with a try, conversion and a penalty. Flanker Bernard le Roux and lock Francois van der Merwe played alongside Goosen, while prop Brian Mujati and flank Antonie Claassen came on in the 54th and 62nd minutes respectively.
– Stade Français used centre Meyer Bosman and flyhalf Morné Steyn off the bench in their convincing 39-22 victory over Bordeaux. Locks Jandré Marais and Berend Botha made Bordeaux's run-on XV and scrumhalf Heini Adams made a welcome return from injury in the 57th.
– Fullback Scott Spedding and prop Gert Muller were in a Bayonne side that stunned log leaders Clermont 24-13. Prop Daniel Kötze represented Clermont, who now lose top stop to Toulon. Prop JC Janse van Rensburg partnered Muller in Bayonne's front row from the 60th minute.
– Toulon were ruthless in their onslaught against Grenoble, claiming a 61-28 rout. Boks Bakkies Botha, Juan Smith and Bryan Habana combined for three of the European champions' nine tries, while former Sharks hooker Craig Burden also started for Toulon. Grenoble had a strong South African contingent in the form of wing Gio Aplon, scrumhalf Charl McLeod, locks Hendrik Roodt and Paul Willemse, and prop Albertus Buckle. Debutant Willemse, who played his last game for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup semi-final, was yellow-carded as early as the 18th minute.
ANGLO-WELSH CUP
– Eighthman Ben Pienaar featured in a London Welsh team that conceded six tries in their 47-7 loss to Bath.
– Leicester, with lock Sebastian de Chaves in their starting lineup, withstood a late onslaught from London Irish to record a 17-16 victory.
– No 8 Ernst Joubert, flank Nick de Jager and lock Mouritz Botha played in a makeshift Saracens outfit that held on for a narrow 25-20 win over Harlequins. On-loan flyhalf Tim Swiel kicked two conversions and a penalty for a seven-point haul on debut for Quins.
Photo: Bertrand Langlios/AFP Photo
