SARugbymag.co.za looks back at the past weekend’s Premiership Cup, Six Nations and Major League Rugby matches involving South African players.
PREMIERSHIP CUP
– Heinrich Brüssow grabbed a brace of tries as a substitute to help the Northampton Saints win their semi-final 59-33 against the Newcastle Falcons. The flank came on to the field on the hour mark. Scrumhalf Cobus Reinach and loosehead prop Frans van Wyk were also on duty for Northampton, while former Sharks hooker Kyle Cooper was a substitute for Newcastle.
– Saracens booked their place in the final with an impressive 38-22 away victory against the Worcester Warriors. Saracens had Vincent Koch at tighthead prop, while veteran centre Wynand Olivier captained the Warriors, who had Dean Hammond on the wing, Scott van Breda at flyhalf and Anton Bresler at lock.
MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY
– The Austin Elite, featuring hooker Tiaan Erasmus, lock Rikus Zwart, flank Kyle Breytenbach and outside centre Zinzan Elan-Puttick in their starting XV, slumped to a 23-19 defeat against the Toronto Arrows. Erasmus and Breytenbach were replaced by their compatriots Brendan Rams and Dylan Pieterse in the second half.
– Captain Joe Pietersen inspired his San Diego Legion side to a stunning 17-13 comeback win against the Houston SaberCats. Pietersen kicked a penalty and two important conversions and came up with a try-assist for the winning score. Centre JP du Plessis and hooker Dean Muir played alongside Pietersen for San Diego. No 8 Ayron Schramm started for Houston, who led 13-3 at the interval.
– The Nola Gold outlasted the Seattle Seawolves to secure a 41-31 win. Wing Tristan Blewett scored one of Nola’s five tries, while fullback JP Eloff slotted four conversions and two penalties for a flawless kicking performance. Prop Hubert Buydens and scrumhalf Caleb Meyer also started for Nola. The Seattle Seawolves had hooker Stephan Coetzee, No 8 Riekert Hattingh and scrumhalf JP Smith in their run-on lineup. Hattingh scored one of their four tries.
SIX NATIONS
– Lock Quinn Roux enjoyed a solid outing for Ireland in their 22-13 win against Scotland at Murrayfield. Eighthman Josh Strauss and loosehead prop Allan Dell were on duty for Scotland.
– Wales beat Italy 26-15 in Rome to make it two from two in the Six Nations. Flank Braam Steyn started and scored in Italy’s losing cause.
– England thrashed France 44-8 at Twickenham. Lock Paul Willemse was on the bench for France and came on in the 56th minute.
Compiled by Dylan Jack & Mariette Adams
Photo: San Diego Legion/Facebook Page
