Saffas Abroad: Green makes the most of first start

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SARugbymag.co.za looks back at the South African players who featured for their respective clubs in the 11th round of the English Premiership.

– Sale Sharks toppled two-time defending champions Exeter Chiefs, who were reduced to 14 men in the first half, 25-20 under the Friday-night lights. In his first start since returning from injury, Springbok lock Lood de Jager put in a man-of-the-match performance for the Sharks. De Jager made 12 carries for 38 metres, nine passes, 17 tackles and one clean break. Also in action for Sale was No 8 Daniel du Preez, captain Jono Ross, scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and replacements Coenie Oosthuizen, lock Cobus Wiese and Robert du Preez. Loose forward Jacques Vermeulen made his first start of the season for the Exeter Chiefs and made 10 carries and nine tackles. Zimbabwe-born lock pair Don Armand and Dave Ewers were also in action for the Chiefs.

– The Brisol Bears took full advantage of Exeter’s loss to extend their lead at the top of the table with a 17-3 win over the Leicester Tigers. Kobus van Wyk started on the right wing for Leicester, who fielded a heavily rotated team without the likes of Cyle Brink, Hanro Liebenberg, Jasper Wiese (suspended) and Luan de Bruin.

– Tyrone Green shone in his first start for Harlequins, despite the team slipping to a 22-25 loss to the Newcastle Falcons. Green started on the right wing and scored an excellent brace of tries in the second half. In total, Green made a massive 127m from seven carries, making four clean breaks and beating six defenders in a much-needed reminder of his quality, as he has struggled for game time since moving to England. Harlequins captain Stephen Lewies also scored a well-taken try, after moving from lock to blindside flank for this game. Tighthead props Wilco Louw and Simon Kerrod also played for Harlequins. Newcastle, meanwhile, had scrumhalf Louis Schreuder and flank Philip van der Walt in their starting lineup.

– Irish flyhalf Paddy Jackson kicked 11 points to steer Declan Kidney’s London Irish to a hard-fought 16-10 victory over Wasps in Coventry. Juan de Jongh started at outside centre for Wasps, while Scotland-capped loosehead prop Allan Dell started for London Irish.

– Gloucester scored 17 unanswered points in the second half to claim a 22-14 victory over the Worcester Warriors, who lead 7-5 at half time. It was just Gloucester’s second win of the season and drew them level on 15 points with the Warriors on the Premiership table. Ruan Ackermann played 70 minutes for Gloucester at No 8, making 17 carries for 70m and beating six defenders. Worcester had centre Francois Venter, scrumhalf Francois Hougaard, tighthead props Nic Schonert and Richard Palframan and No 8 GJ van Velze in their match-day squad.

– Bath staged a stunning second-half fightback as they came from behind to edge out Northampton Saints 23-22 at Franklin’s Gardens. Lock David Ribbans started for Northampton and put in a solid performance, making eight carries and 11 tackles. Bath had Tian Schoeman at fullback and Juan Schoeman at loosehead prop.

Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images

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Dylan Jack