SARugbymag.co.za looks at the past weekend’s Pro14, French Top 14 and Anglo-Welsh Cup matches, involving South African players.
PRO14
– Connacht, with lock Quinn Roux in their starting lineup, defeated the Cheetahs 23-15 in Galway on Saturday.
– Lock George Earle came on in the 63rd minute for the Cardiff Blues in their 37-8 bonus-point win over Zebre at home. No 8 Derick Minnie, flank Johan Meyer and hooker Luhandré Luus played for Zebre. The result takes the Blues from seventh to fifth position in Conference A.
– Edinburgh registered a 37-10 bonus-point victory against the Ospreys. No 8 Cornell du Preezwas in the winning team’s run-on XV.
– Centre Louis Ludik and prop Wiehahn Herbst were in the Ulster side that pipped the Kings 43-36 in Port Elizabeth. But it was their teammate Robbie Diack who came off the bench to score the match-winning try for the visitors.
WATCH: Highlights of Kings vs Ulster
– The Scarlets, featuring lock David Bulbring and prop Werner Kruger, had to work hard to beat Treviso 20-8.
– The Glasgow Warriors beat Leinster 31-21 to maintain their perfect run in the competition. Leinster used hooker Richard Strauss as an impact player.
– Munster humiliated the Dragons 49-6 at Independent Park in Cork. Blindside flank Chris Cloetemade his debut for Munster playing alongside compatriot Jean Kleyn. Lock Ligtoring Landmanstarted for the Dragons, while Brok Harris, Sarel Pretorius and Pat Howard were on the bench.
FRENCH TOP 14
– Wing Cheslin Kolbe scored one of five tries to help Toulouse to a 38-37 win over Bordeaux. Prop Maks van Dyk and speedster Wandile Mjekevu were among Toulouse’s substitutes. Lock Jandré Marais and flyhalf Tian Schoeman were on duty for Bordeaux.
– Backs Robert Ebersohn and Rory Kockott, and hooker Jody Jenneker starred for Castres in their 32-19 away win over Oyonnax. Scrumhalf James Hall and lock Steven Sykes represented Oyonnax.
– Table-toppers Lyon had their lead at the summit of the standings cut down to one after slumping to a 19-15 defeat at the hands of La Rochelle. Paul Jordaan was at outside centre for La Rochelle. Hendrik Roodt, Etienne Oosthuizen, Francois van der Merwe and Deon Fourie all featured for Lyon.
– Pat Lambie came off the bench to slot an important conversion in the 78th minute as Racing beat Pau 23-20 in Paris. Flank Antonie Claassen was also a second-half substitute for Racing. TIghthead prop Lourens Adriaanse started for Pau.
– Bottom-feeders Agen, with Ricky Januarie at scrumhalf and centre Johann Sadie on the bench, stunned a star-studded Toulon side 26-24 at home. Bok duo Duane Vermeulen, Juandré Kruger and Marcel van der Merwe were in Toulon’s starting lineup and JP Pietersen on the bench. The result lifts Agen off the bottom of the log.
– Blindside flank Petrus Hauman and locks Jan Uys and Peet Marais formed part of the Brive team that edged Stade Français 20-19. Despite his team losing, Morné Steyn had a brilliant game as he scored a try and knocked over two conversions for an 11-point haul. Charl McLeod and Willem Alberts played with Steyn for Stade.
– Centre Jan Serfontein made his debut for Montpellier, but it was his midfield partner Frans Steynwho contributed 12 points via two tries and a conversion to help Montpellier claim a stunning 28-24 triumph over Clermont. Apart from the Bok centre-combination, fullback Henry Immelman, No 8 Jacques du Plessis, blindside flank Wiaan Liebenberg, locks Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg and Paul Willemse and prop Johannes Jonker turned out for the winning team. Flip van der Merwe started for Clermont.
ANGLO-WELSH CUP
– The Worcester Warriors, with wing Dean Hammond and prop Nick Schonert in their ranks, slumped to a 24-21 defeat against the Sale Sharks in round one of this competition.
– Scrumhalf Cobus Reinach and loosehead prop Francois van Wyk featured in the Northampton Saints side that lost 43-28 to the Exeter Chiefs.
– Prop Pat Cilliers and his Leicester Tigers teammates were lucky to open their campaign with a 26-24 victory against Gloucester.
– Hooker Michael van Vuuren’s Bath beat London Irish 26-22 in London. Lock Franco van der Merwe and prop Petrus du Plessis did service for Irish.
– Wasps selected Juan de Jongh at inside centre for their first-round clash, which resulted in a 53-41 defeat against the Newcastle Falcons.
– With Tim Swiel earning a rare start at flyhalf, Harlequins claimed a thrilling 30-29 win over Saracens at Allianz Park in London.
Photo: Remy Gabalda/Getty Images
