Coetzee reminds Boks of his quality

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Marcell Coetzee delivered yet another timely reminder of what he could offer the Springboks with an outstanding performance in the European Champions Cup this weekend.

Pool 1

– Leinster continued their perfect start to the season in all competitions with one-sided 18-0 win over hosts Treviso. The Irish powerhouse extended their winning streak to 16 (six in this competition and 10 in the PRO14). Locks Irne Herbst and Eli Snyman and flank Braam Steyn were in Treviso’s starting XV. Steyn produced a solid 80-minute shift that included 19 run metres from 14 carries and eight tackles. Leinster were already assured of a place in the quarter-finals and Treviso’s stay in the competition came to an end.

– The Northampton Saints snuck into the quarter-finals with a high-octane 36-24 win over hosts Lyon. As is often the case with Saints, their attack was superbly led by scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, who notched up a try and a try assist to go with his 18 running metres from six carries, one clean break, 69 passes and four tackles. Northampton utilised prop Francois van Wyk from the 64th minute. Hendrik Roodt played lock for Lyon and his usual second-row partner Etienne Oosthuizen played the unfamiliar role of No 8.

Pool 2

– Loose forwards Jacques Vermeulen and Jannes Kirsten were influential for the Exeter Chiefs in their 33-14 victory against La Rochelle. Exeter had already qualified for the knockout phase of the competition and La Rochelle knew they could progress further, effectively making this clash a dead rubber.  Wiaan Liebenberg was benched by La Rochelle, but called upon in the 23rd minute as an injury replacement.

– Wing DTH van der Merwe wound back the clock with a superb individual display for the Glasgow Warriors in their 45-7 win over the Sale Sharks. The 33-year-old flyer made 72m from 10 carries, scored a try and made four tackles. Fellow wing Kyle Steyn and prop Oli Kebble featured alongside Van der Merwe for the winners. Neither for the teams qualified for the quarter-finals.

Pool 3

– Marcell Coetzee again delivered big time for Ulster in their nerve-wracking 22-15 victory against Bath which ensured them safe passage to the playoffs. Ulster needed a win and several other results to go their way to stay alive, and ultimately everything went in their favour. Coetzee scored the opening try of the game, chalked up 48m from 10 powerful carries, beat three defenders, made six passes, 19 tackles, one clean break, one offload and two turnovers, including a crucial one late in the game when Bath went in search of a match-tying try. Like Coetzee, hooker Rob Herring also played 80 minutes for Ulster.

Pool 4

– In the immediate aftermath of the confirmation of their relegation from the Premiership, a 14-man Saracens came out and produced a stunning performance to defeat Racing 27-24 to advance to the quarter-finals as one of the best pool runners-up. Prop Vincent Koch represented the under-fire Sarries until the 60th minute. Veteran flank Bernard le Roux did service for Racing, who topped this pool. The quarter-finals will see Saracens take on Leinster in a repeat of last season’s final, while Racing will face Clermont in an all-French affair.

– Munster may have been knocked out of the competition, but they bowed out in style. Coach Johann van Graan’s side inflicted a 33-5 defeat on the Ospreys in what was both teams’ last European game of the season. With a brace of tries, 50 running metres from 24 carries, nine tackles, seven passes and an offload, Munster No 8 CJ Stander was the game’s standout performer. He was joined in the back row by Arno Botha from the 66th minute. The Ospreys had wing Hanno Dirksen and scrumhalf Shaun Venter in their ranks.

Pool 5

– Toulouse secured a home quarter-final with a resounding 35-14 win against Gloucester, who in return failed to make the playoffs because of the loss. Kok duo Cheslin Kolbe and Rynhardt Elstadt started in tandem for Toulouse, who will be up against Ulster in the quarters. Franco Mostert, Ruan Ackermann and Gerbrandt Grobler turned out for Gloucester.

– A polished performance from Handre Pollard inspired Montpellier to a 35-29 win over Connacht in a bottom-of-the-table clash. The flyhalf made 25 passes, 12 carries, three offloads, beat three defenders, ran 34m, made two clean breaks, kicked five conversions and made eight kicks out of hand. He was joined by fullback Johan Goosen, centre Jan Serfontein, hooker Bismarck du Plessis and locks Paul Willemse and Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg who received a yellow card in the last minute of the match.

Photo: Getty Images

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