SARugbymag.co.za looks back at the past weekend's English Premiership, Celtic Pro12 and French Top 14 matches, which involved South African players.
ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP
– A late try handed the Leicester Tigers, who had lock Sebastian de Chaves in their starting lineup, a 16-12 win over the Newcastle Falcons. The Tigers have now won four consecutive Premiership matches.
– Wasps' unbeaten run at the Ricoh Arena came to an end with a 26-17 loss to Saracens. Flank Ashley Johnson played for the hosts, while inside centre Brad Barritt, lock Alistair Hargreaves, prop Petrus du Plessis and No 8 Ernst Joubert all featured for Sarries. Wasps are now sixth on the log and Saracens third.
– The Exeter Chiefs scored eight tries to thrash London Welsh 74-19 at Sandy Park. Ex-Stormers flank Don Armand turned out for the Chiefs, who are now second in the standings, behind the Northampton Saints.
– Francois Louw and his Bath teammates returned to winning ways with a narrow 12-3 win over the Sale Sharks at the Rec. Bath haven't scored a try in over four hours, but four penalties were enough to seal the win.
CELTIC PRO12
– Ulster slumped to 26-22 defeat against the Newport Gwent Dragons, who had ex-Stormers stalwart Brok Harris in their side. For Ulster, scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar kicked two conversions and a penalty, while lock Franco van der Merwe, prop Wiehahn Herbst, hooker Rob Herring and flank Robbie Diack all played alongside Pienaar.
– Centre Andries Strauss, lock Anton Bresler and prop WP Nel all started for Edinburgh in their 29-8 away win against Benetton Treviso. Strauss scored one of the winners' four tries. Loose forward Meyer Swanepoel played for Treviso from the 59th minute.
– The Llanelli-Scarlets continued their unbeaten home run, as they edged Leinster 23-13. Locks George Earle and Johan Snyman started in tandem for the Scarlets and was joined by compatriot Jacobie Adriaanse in the 57th minute. Fullback Zane Kirchner and hooker Richardt Strauss were on duty for Leinster.
– BJ Botha and CJ Stander were part of the Munster team who suffered a 26-12 defeat at the hands of the Neath-Swansea Ospreys. Wing Hanno Dirksen represented the Ospreys, who moved back into the top four on the Pro12 table.
– Two tries from wing DTH van der Merwe saw the Glasgow Warriors, who also had the services of eighthman Josh Strauss and prop Rossouw de Klerk, ease to a comfortable 26-5 win over Zebre. Lock Quintin Geldenhuys played for the Italians. The Warriors are now top of the log.
– Connacht conceded a late try to lose 18-17 against the Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park. Danie Poolman started for the Irish province at outside centre.
FRENCH TOP 14
– In a low-scoring encounter, Oyonnax beat Toulouse 9-3 at home. Hooker Jody Jenneker turned out for the winners, who rose one place above Toulouse to fifth on the log. Prop Gurthrö Steenkamp completed the Toulouse front row, while former Bulls loose forward Pedrie Wannenburg had an eight-minute cameo for Oyonnax.
– A late drop goal helped Stade Français overcome Bordeaux 23-22 at the Stade Jacques-Chaban Delmas. Bok flyhalf Morné Steyn earned a rare start for Stade and kicked two conversions and a penalty. Eighthman Jono Ross and centre Meyer Bosman played alongside Steyn and Heinke van der Merwe came off the bench for the second half. Berend Botha and Jandré Marais were again selected as Bordeaux's locks and ex-Bulls scrumhalf Heini Adams came on as a replacement in the 72nd minute.
– Prop Pat Cilliers came on as a substitute in the 52nd minute for Montpellier in their 15-15 draw with La Rochelle. Outscored two tries to none, Montpellier's flyhalf kicked his fifth penalty in the fifth minute of injury time to secure the draw.
– Props Gert Muller anad JC Janse van Rensburg represented Bayonne, who lost 28-16 against Clermont at the Stade Marcel-Michelin. Clermont are level on points with Toulon, but slipped down to second on points difference. Bayonne are 10th.
– A try apiece by eighthman Antonie Claassen and lock Francois van der Merwe earned Racing Métro a 34-29 victory over Grenoble. Lock Juandré Kruger completed the second row with Van der Merwe and Bok Johan Goosen made his return from injury in the last four minutes. Lock Hendrik Roodt, scrumhalf Charl McLeod and fullback Gio Aplon made Grenoble's starting XV, with Aplon scoring a try. Lock Ross Skeate warmed Grenoble's bench.
– Bok flank Juan Smith scored one of five tries as Toulon thumped Brive 34-11 to climb to the summit of the Top 14 log. Lock Peet Marais featured alongside centre Riaan Swanepoel for Brive at the Stade Mayol.
– Rory Kockott marked his return to club rugby with a 13-point haul to guide Castres to a pulsating 23-20 victory over Lyon. The former Sharks scrumhalf scored a try, a conversion and two last-gasp penalties to secure victory for the hosts, who played with 14 men for 60 minutes after their flank was red-carded in the 20th minute. Jannie Bornman started on the other side of the scrum for the winners. Ex-Bok scrumhalf Ricky Januarie played for Lyon and flank Deon Fourie joined him in the 57th minute.
Compiled by Mariette Adams
Photo: Remy Gabalda/AFP Photo
