SARugbymag.co.za looks back at the past weekend’s Anglo-Welsh Cup matches involving South African players.

– The Sale Sharks ended their campaign with an impressive 45-18 win against the Scarlets. Scrumhalf Faf de Klerk was yellow-carded for Sale after coming off the bench in the second half, while Sale captain and No 8 Josh Strauss scored a try on his return from injury.

– Former Sharks hooker Kyle Cooper scored a brace of tries to help the Newcastle Falcons to a 31-19 victory against Gloucester. The win gives Newcastle an excellent opportunity of obtaining a playoff spot in the competition, as they sit top of Pool 4.

– The Dragons won their second match of the pool stage, beating Worcester Warriors 33-27 to deny them a place in the knockout stage. Centre Jarryd Sage, flyhalf Zane Kirchner and scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius all scored for the winning side, who had lock Ligtoring Landman in their starting XV. Kirchner contributed a further eight points with the boot. Worcester had hooker Kurt Haupt and centre Dean Hammond in their starting XV.

– Flank Arno Botha scored a try to help London Irish to a 42-21 win against the Cardiff Blues. Scrumhalf Piet van Zyl started for London Irish, who also had lock Franco van der Merwe in their starting XV. Prop Petrus du Plessis and flank Sebastian de Chaves came off the bench for the victorious side.

– The Northampton Saints, with scrumhalf Cobus Reinach and prop Francois van Wyk in their starting XV, secured top spot in Pool 3 with a 36-10 win against Harlequins. Flank Heinrich Brüssow and scrumhalf Nic Groom came off the bench for the Saints in the second half.

– The Exeter Chiefs snatched the top spot in Pool 2 with a 43-20 win against Saracens. Lock Wilhelm van der Sluys started for the Chiefs.

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