Jesse Kriel went on a sensational run to score his second try in Japan since returning from injury, while Tyrone Green dotted down in the Champions Cup semi-finals.
Champions Cup:
– Leinster held off a spirited Northampton Saints fightback to march into a third-straight Champions Cup final with a 20-17 victory at Croke Park. Springbok lock Jason Jenkins played off the bench for Jacques Nienaber‘s Leinster. Juarno Augustus enjoyed a solid performance at No 8 for Northampton, completing the full 80 minutes. Augustus made five dominant carries, beat five defenders, made two clean breaks, two dominant tackles, and won a turnover against Leinster.
– Toulouse secured a meeting with Leinster in the final after they defeated Harlequins 38-26. Fullback Tyrone Green ran onto the ball from deep to break through the Stade Toulousain line and dot down for Harlequins’ fourth try after the English side trailed 31-12 at half time. Captain Stephan Lewies, lock partner Irne Herbst and Bok centre Andre Esterhuizen all started for Harlequins.
Challenge Cup:
– Gloucester sealed their spot in a record-equaling fifth EPCR Challenge Cup final with a 40-23 win over Benetton. Ruan Ackermann played 67 minutes at blindside flank for Gloucester, who will face the Sharks in the final in London on 24 May. Fullback Rhyno Smith scored one of Benetton’s three tries when he crossed the line in overtime in the first half. Former Vodacom Bulls lock Eli Snyman also started for Benetton.
💪¡Tardó en llegar pero descontó Benetton!
🇮🇹 Gran recuperación en campo propio y juego de manos del equipo italiano para que finalice Rhyno Smith.
⭐Mirá la #ChallengeCup por @StarPlusLA .#MiraloenStarPlus pic.twitter.com/3CS30Ezmkg
— ScrumRugby (@ScrumESPN) May 4, 2024
Japan League One:
– Jesse Kriel scored an incredible solo try as fourth-placed Canon Eagles went down to unbeaten league leaders Wild Knights, who finished top of the table with 16 wins out of 16. Receiving the ball in his own 22, Kriel ran a good 80 metres to score in the final round of action. Kriel formed the Eagles’ midfield partnership with former Stormers back SP Marais. Wild Knights had Lood de Jager at lock.
Jesse Kriel scoring one of the best tries of the 2023/24 #LeagueOne season#SaffasAbroad #RugbySan pic.twitter.com/n28lqkxkG8
— Darren (@SaffasRugby) May 4, 2024
– Despite missing out on the playoffs, defending champions Kubota Spears produced a strong finish, beating third-placed Suntory Sungoliath 45-26. Ruan Botha and David Bulbring formed the second row for Frans Ludeke‘s Spears, who had JD Schickerling and try-scorer Schalk Erasmus on the bench.
– A brace of tries from former All Blacks scrumhalf Aaron Smith helped Toyota Verblitz defeat Black Rams 45-18. Pieter-Steph du Toit started at No 8 for Verblitz, who finished in seventh place on the table.
Photo: Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images