Saffas Abroad: Kolbe repeats 2019 heroics

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Cheslin Kolbe scored a replica of his 2019 World Cup final try in Japan, while a plethora of South Africans dotted down in the Champions and Challenge Cups.

Champions Cup
– Northampton Saints secured their place in the last 16 by demolishing Bayonne in a nine-try 61-14 victory. Juarno Augustus played as a substitute for Northampton, while fellow No 8 Uzair Cassiem was on Bayonne’s bench.

– Thaakir Abrahams scored the vital fourth try as Lyon progressed to the playoffs by claiming a bonus-point 34-20 win against Connacht. The former Sharks winger scored a brace, with his second try in the 74th minute securing the bonus point for Lyon. Springbok flank Arno Botha also started for Lyon.

– Jacques Vermeulen continued his remarkable try-scoring record to help Exeter Chiefs hold out for a thrilling 19-17 victory over Glasgow Warriors. Vermeulen’s 41st-minute try was his fifth score in the last four games and his 10th in all competitions this season. The win saw Exeter join Northampton in qualifying from Pool 3. Former Sharks loose forward Henco Venter started for Glasgow.

– Munster put aside their injury nightmare to secure a remarkable 29-18 bonus-point win against struggling Toulon in France. Lock David Ribbans captained Toulon, still looking for their first win in the Champions Cup.

– Leinster put on a seven-try show to beat winless Stade Francais 43-7 in Dublin and qualify for the playoffs. Lock Jason Jenkins started for Leinster, while JJ van der Mescht was in Stade’s second row.

– Andre Esterhuizen and Tyrone Green both got in on the action as Harlequins became the third team to qualify from Pool 2 with a 54-15 triumph in Cardiff. Flyhalf Tinus de Beer kicked a conversion and penalty for Cardiff. Bok centre Esterhuizen scored his fifth try of the season in the first half.

– An Antoine Dupont-inspired Toulouse eased into the last 16 by putting Ulster to the sword in a seven-try 48-24 win in Belfast. Springbok prop Steven Kitshoff started for Ulster.

– Thomas du Toit scored his sixth try of the season as Bath came from 22-8 down to beat Racing 92 29-25. Lock Quinn Roux, flank GJ van Velze and loosehead Juan Schoeman all played for Johann van Graan‘s Bath, while Bok captain Siya Kolisi and prop Trevor Nyakane were in action for Racing.

– La Rochelle boosted their hopes of qualifying for the playoffs by scoring seven tries in a 45-12 home win against Leicester Tigers. Dillyn Leyds started on the wing for La Rochelle, getting the bragging rights over fellow Springboks Handre Pollard and Jasper Wiese, who played for Leicester.

– Bordeaux continued their sensational form in the Champions Cup, routing three-time champions Saracens in a 55-15 victory. Tighthead prop Carlu Sadie played off the bench for Bordeaux. Scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl started for Saracens.

Challenge Cup
– Benetton scored five second-half tries to complete a 57-18 lashing of Newcastle Falcons and progress through Pool 2. Fullback Rhyno Smith was joined by captain and lock Eli Snyman in Benetton’s starting lineup, while former Sharks second rower Gideon Koegelenberg was a substitute.

– Gloucester scored a 73rd-minute converted try to snatch a 21-20 win against Sean Everitt‘s Edinbrugh. Loose forward Ruan Ackermann was on the bench for Gloucester. Props WP Nel and Pierre Schoeman and wing Wes Goosen started for Edinburgh, who face a last-round battle to qualify after winning just one of their three pool fixtures.

Japan League One
– Lood de Jager completed a successful return to action by scoring in his first start of the season as top-ranked Wild Knights beat Dynaboars 81-21. De Jager was making his first appearance since recovering from a heart issue and scored one of the Wild Knights’ 12 tries, while Springbok teammate Damian de Allende also getting on the scoresheet.

– Cheslin Kolbe scored a try similar to his effort in the 2019 World Cup final to help Suntory Sungoliath edge a 29-25 win against the Kwagga Smith-captained Blue Revs. Bok flanker Smith was yellow carded for accidental head contact in a tackle. The result sees third-placed Sungoliath stay in touch with the top two, winning four of their opening five games.

– Despite resting scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, Canon Eagles had enough in the tank to beat Black Rams 24-8. Bok centre Jesse Kriel started for the Eagles, who had former Stormers flank Kobus van Dyk in their lineup.

– Former Stormers centre Rikus Pretorius scored the 79th-minute winner as Frans Ludeke‘s Kubota Spears grabbed a thrilling 38-34 victory against Kobe Steelers. Wing Gerhard van den Heever slotted three conversions and four penalties for the defending champions.

– Toyota Verblitz shrugged off injuries to All Blacks halfbacks Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett to beat Kintetsu Liners 47-14. Pieter-Steph du Toit started at flank for Verblitz, who moved up to fifth place with their third win of the season.

– Newly promoted Honda Heat’s difficult return to Japan’s top division continued in a 12-40 loss to Brave Lupus. Franco Mostert started for Honda Heat, who had former Bulls back Dawid Kellerman on the wing.

Photo: Koki Nagahama/Getty Images

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