Saffas Abroad: Marx strikes thrice, De Allende sees red

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Another action packed weekend for South Africans playing abroad saw Malcolm Marx score a hat-trick, while Springbok teammate Damian de Allende was sent off.

Japan League One

– Malcom Marx got off the mark in style, scoring a first-half hat trick for Kubota Spears in the 77-14 rout of the Kintetsu Liners. After scoring seven tries in five appearances last term, Marx had been kept try-less in his opening two outings of
the new campaign, but took a liking to the luckless Kintetsu and hit the three-try mark before half-time. Lock Ruan Botha and Japan-capped flank Pieter Labuschagne also scored a try each for the Spears, who are in second place.

– Lood de Jager made his League One debut for two-time defending champions, the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights in a 40-5 win against Sagamihira Dynaboars. De Jager started and got through 56 minutes of work alongside Damian de Allende in what was an eventful game for the Springbok centre, who opened the scoring with an early try but was later red-carded for a dangerous clean out.

– Last year’s finalists Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath recorded a courageous victory when they saw off the improving Yokohama Canon Eagles 32-23 during a dramatic afternoon in Tokyo. Jesse Kriel gave the Eagles the perfect start by scoring from a Faf de Klerk quick tap, the latter setting up another try in similar fashion. However, despite losing former All Black Aaron Cruden to a red card in the first half for a dangerous clean out on De Klerk, Suntory fired back in the second stanza to win. De Klerk was also shown yellow for a late tackle.

– Toshiba Brave Lupus celebrated the signing of Richie Mo’unga for next year with a rousing 13-point victory over the Shizuoka Blue Revs, while their new acquisition watched from the sidelines. Burger Odendaal started at inside centre for Toshiba, while Kwagga Smith continued in his role as captain and No 8 of Blue Revs.

– Marcell Coetzee scored his first try of the season as Kobe Steelers held on to beat the NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu in a 43-33 thriller. Coetzee started alongside former Stormers lock JD Schickerling.

– Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo clinched their first win of the season with a 29-25 victory over Toyota Verblitz, home to Willie le Roux and Pieter-Steph du Toit.

Premiership

– Robert du Preez produced another solid performance as Sale Sharks claimed a bonus point in a 24-16 away win against Harlequins. Du Preez scored a try and kicked two conversions and was joined on the scoresheet by teammates Akker van der Merwe and Cobus Wiese. Also in action for Sale were Jono Ross and Jean-Luc du Preez, the latter showing his versatility by playing at No 8. Springbok centre Andre Esterhuizen started for Harlequins and beat four defenders, but missed three tackles. Tighthead props Wilco Louw and Simon Kerrod played for Harlequins.

– Benhard Janse van Rensburg was the star of the show in London Irish’s 23-7 win against Bristol Bears. In another outstanding showing, the inside centre made 15 passes, and ran for 57 metres on 12 carries for one try.

Top 14

– Experienced lock Jandre Marais brought up 200 appearances for Bordeaux in a 23-15 win over Bayonne that lifted the hosts into fourth place on the table. Winger Madosh Tambwe made his return from injury as a substitute.

– Jeremy Ward continued his excellent first season in France as the centre dotted down for Stade Francais in a 30-7 victory against Castres. Lock JJ van der Mescht was on the bench for Stade, who are in second place and trail leaders Toulouse by only three points.

– Prop Marcel van der Merwe and centre Nico Lee both started as second-from-bottom Brive stunned Toulon in a 26-17 upset. Cheslin Kolbe started on the right wing for Toulon, who are in ninth place after successive losses but are only four points away from the top six.

– La Rochelle tightened the battle for first place with a 30-7 win against leaders Toulouse. Backs Dillyn Leyds and Raymond Rhule both started for La Rochelle, while mobile loose forward Kyle Hatherell scored a try off the bench. Springbok flank Rynhardt Esltadt wore the No 6 shirt for Toulouse. Third-placed La Rochelle are just eight points off the top of the table.

– Montpellier, featuring Cobus Reinach and Jan Serfontein, drew level with fifth-placed Racing 92 on the log by beating the Parisians 17-12 on Sunday.  France-capped lock Paul Willemse scored a first-half try for Montpellier. Bok pair Trevor Nyakane and Warrick Gelant started for Racing.

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