SARugbymag.co.za looks back at the past weekend's English Premiership and Celtic Pro12 matches, involving South African players.
ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP
– Wasps and Exeter played out to a thrilling 35-35 draw at Sandy Park. Flank Ashley Johnson captained Wasps and came up against compatriot Don Armand, who also played flank for Exeter. The result sees Wasps extend their lead at the summit of the log to five points.
– Saracens, featuring captain Brad Barritt (centre), Schalk Burger (flank), Michael Rhodes (lock), Petrus du Plessis (prop) and Schalk Brits (hooker) in their starting lineup, slumped to a 24-18 defeat at the hands of the Worcester Warriors at Sixways Stadium. The Warriors have struggled for consistency this season and are locked in a relegation battle with Bristol at the foot of the standings, but since the arrival of Gary Gold as director of rugby the club has shown vast improvement. Outside centre Wynand Olivier, scrumhalf Francois Hougaard and tighthead prop Nick Schonert played for the Warriors.
– Replacement flyhalf Tim Swiel's Harlequins thumped flank Nick Fenton-Wells and his Bristol teammates 42-8 at Ashton Gate on Friday. The visitors ran in five tries on their way to a convincing victory, with Swiel contributing five points via a conversion and penalty. Despite the bonus-point win, Quins are 17 points behind log-leaders Wasps.
– The Leicester Tigers ended a three-match losing streak with a crushing 34-9 victory against Gloucester at Welford Road. Prop Pat Cilliers started for the winners. Leicester are fifth and Gloucester ninth on the log.
– Francois Louw co-captained Bath to a nervy 32-30 victory against the Northampton Saints at home. The visitors led by a point late in the match, before Bath snatched victory with a penalty goal in the dying moments. Scrumhalf Nic Groom was in Saints' run-on XV.
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CELTIC PRO12
– Munster, despite being short of several key players who are on international duty with Ireland, hammered the Newport Gwent Dragons 45-17 to consolidate their place at the top of the table. Outside centre Jaco Taute was in fine form for the winners and scored two of their six tries. Taute played alongside lock Jean Kleyn and scrumhalf Abrie Griesel. The Dragons had fullback Carl Meyer, wing Pat Howard, scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius, lock Ligtoring Landman and prop Brok Harris in their team.
– Ulster narrowly defeated Edinburgh 24-18 in Belfast. Former Sharks trio Louis Ludik (fullback), Marcell Coetzee (No 8) and Wiehahn Herbst (prop) as well as flank Robbie Diack were on duty for the winners, with Ludik crossing for a crucial try.
– Wing DTH van der Merwe and prop Werner Kruger were part of the Scarlets team that beat the Glasgow Warriors 26-14 at Scotstoun. The result keeps the Scarlets in the top tour, while Glasgow remain fifth.
– Lloyd Greeff, Johan Meyer, Derick Minnie, captain Quintin Geldenhuys, Bartholomeus le Roux, Gideon Koegelenberg and Carlo Engelbrecht all represented Zebre, who slumped to a 40-10 defeat against the Ospreys. Utility back Hanno Dirksen was named on the Ospreys' bench.
– Quinn Roux and Danie Poolman turned out for Connacht in their 19-13 win against the Cardiff Blues. For the defending champion Connacht side, it was a first win in over a month.
– Hooker Richardt Strauss led Leinster to a commanding 40-14 win over Treviso in his first game as club captain. Ex-Bok Zane Kirchner started alongside Strauss for the third-ranked Leinster.
NEWS
– Former Springbok prop Brian Mujati has joined the Ospreys on a short-term contract until the end of the season to provide injury cover. The 32-year-old signs on from English Premiership club, the Sale Sharks.
– Compiled by Mariette Adams
Photo: Celtic Pro12/Inpho
