Robert du Preez tallied 14 points in the Premiership, while Dillyn Leyds suffered defeat in the Top 14, as the early parts of the northern hemisphere seasons continued.
Premiership
– Robert du Preez scored 14 points – a try, three conversions and a penalty – to steer Sale Sharks to a 24-17 away win against Leicester Tigers. Dan du Preez also scored a try for Sale Sale Sharks, who had former Stormers Ernst van Rhyn at flank and Cobus Wiese at lock. Flank Hanro Liebenberg scored a try for the Leicester Tigers.
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Back to back awards for Robbie du Preez. ?
He's starting as he left off last season, on FIRE. ?#LEIvSAL | #GallagerPrem
— Sale Sharks ? (@SaleSharksRugby) October 21, 2023
– Thomas du Toit dotted down to give Bath the bonus point in their 25-16 win over Saracens. The Springbok prop came off the bench to replace Juan Schoeman at loosehead early in the second half and went over for Bath’s fourth try in the 55th minute. Flank Chris Cloete started for Bath, but was yellow-carded in the final play of the match, while former Stormers loose forward Jaco Coetzee was a substitute. The result saw Johann van Graan‘s Bath go top of the Premiership.
– Bristol Bears continued their unbeaten start to the season by coming back from a half-time deficit to beat Northampton Saints 33-27. Benhard Janse van Rensburg played the full 80 minutes at inside centre for Bristol.
– Harlequins rebounded from their opening round, single-point defeat to Gloucester by holding on for a 22-14 home victory over Exeter Chiefs. Fit-again Tyrone Green played the whole game at right wing for Harlequins, while flank Jacques Vermeulen played 60 minutes for Exeter, who suffered their first loss of the season.
Top 14
– Stade Francais beat Montpellier 24-9 to continue their unbeaten start to the season and early run at the top of the table. Former Sharks centre Jeremy Ward and lock JJ van der Mescht both started for the Parisians, while Springbok flank Nico Janse van Rensburg started for Montpellier, who suffered a second successive loss following a season-opening win.
– Flyhalf Tristan Tedder kicked two late conversions off the bench as Racing 92 stormed to a 59-10 thrashing of Perpignan, bouncing back from their two-point defeat to Pau in the second round.
– Former Sharks tighthead prop Carlu Sadie played as a substitute for Bordeaux, who held on for a 22-17 win against Toulon.
– Clermont slotted a penalty in the 71st minute to snatch an 11-10 victory over La Rochelle. Dillyn Leyds kicked a penalty and converted La Rochelle’s only try to give them a 10-8 lead early in the second half, before they suffered their second loss of the season.
Photo: Naomi Baker/Getty Images for Sale Sharks
