Catch up on the South Africans in action during the English Premiership semi-finals, and the Springboks in the thick of things as Japan’s League One playoffs drew to a close.
Premiership:
– Six-Test-cap Springbok scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl scored a try and was named Man of the Match as Saracens brushed aside Northampton Saints 38-15 in a semi-final clash at StoneX Stadium on Saturday to book a place in the top-flight showpiece against Sale Sharks. Former DHL Stormers No Juarno Augustus completed 57 minutes for Saints before he was substituted.
“The mentality this year is different.
“We want to do it for ourselves and for this group.”
⚫️? @Saracens scrum-half Ivan van Zyl reacts to their semi-final win over Northampton with @Sarraelgan.#GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/PYaMjR61F0
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) May 13, 2023
– On Sunday, Akker van der Merwe, Nick Schonert, Jono Ross, Rob and Jean-Luc du Preez all started, while Coenie Ossthuizen and Dan du Preez featured off the bench for Sale as the hosts emerged victorious with a 21-13 win against Leicester Tigers at AJ Bell Stadium and end the defending English champions’ reign. Hanro Liebenberg and Jasper Wiese ran out for the losing team, but Handre Pollard was a late withdrawal due to injury.
Top 14:
– Perpignan fullback Tristan Tedder kicked 14 points in a closely contested 26-21 victory against Toulouse at Stade Aime Giral on Saturday, with Rynhardt Elstadt named among the replacements for the visitors, while fellow Bok flanker Uzair Cassiem earned bragging rights with Bayonnais after a hard-fought 21-18 win against Clermont.
P.O.V: the first time in 5 years that my parents are able to watch me play. Thank you all for making this moment magical for us.
c’est la première fois en 5 ans que mes parents peuvent me regarder jouer. Merci à tous d’avoir rendu ce moment magique pour nous.
Mercí beaucoup pic.twitter.com/faEOXLlUfp
— Uzair Cassiem (@uzair_cassiem) May 14, 2023
– Jandre Marais packed down in the second row for Bordeaux Bègles in a 28-0 whitewash of Pau, but prop Marcel van der Merwe and lock Nico Lee were among the losers as Brive lost narrowly to Castres 16-13.
– Montpellier centre Jan Serfontein dotted down, with halfback Cobus Reinach also running out the tunnel in a 42-31 triumph against a weakened La Rochelle lineup ahead of this weekend’s Champions Cup final with Leinster. Meanwhile, fellow Bok Trevor Nyakane crashed over for Racing 92 as Warrick Gelant watched from the bench in a 43-7 mauling of Toulon.
Honestly rate this from him , instead of making the pass he wanted to step the 15 ? , good performance from him ? pic.twitter.com/u9lSLiYuAq https://t.co/GCpesURQEg
— MB5 (@MB5Plug) May 14, 2023
– And on Sunday, former Junior Springbok skipper Jeremy Ward chalked up a five-pointer in the colours of Stade Francais in a 31-31 thriller with Lyon. JJ Mescht and James Hall shared in the action off the wood.
Top League:
– Jesse Kriel was red carded, while Faf de Klerk set up a try for the Yokohama Canon Eagles, but it was Bok teammates Damian de Allende and Lood de Jager who had the last laugh as the Panasonic Wild Knights waltzed into a third consecutive League One final following a 51-20 win on Saturday.
Jesse Kriel was red-carded in Canon Eagles loss to the Wild Knights in the JRLO semi-final. #SaffasAbroad pic.twitter.com/JMuC3ME9ib
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) May 14, 2023
– On Sunday, Malcolm Marx notched up a try as the Kubota Spears got the better of Suntory Goliath 24-18 and booked a place in the league finale. Former Stormers and Sharks lock Ruan Botha also put in a shift for the win.
Your #SaffasAbroad in the #LeagueOne Final ??
? @Kubota_Spears
Malcolm Marx, Ruan Botha, Rikus Pretorius, Gerhard van den Heever⚔️ @Panasonic_WK
Damian de Allende and Lood de Jager pic.twitter.com/SBqggfjqSO— Darren (@SaffasRugby) May 14, 2023
– Also, Franco Mostert and Wilhelm Steenkamp celebrated as their Honda Heat and Mitsubishi Dynaboars teams triumphed in relegation playoffs against the Green Rockets and Toyota Industries, respectively.
Photo: @Saracens/Twitter