Handre Pollard is hitting form at the right time for Leicester Tigers in the Premiership, while Cheslin Kolbe, Cobus Reinach and Kwagga Smith rounded off an excellent weekend for the Springboks playing abroad.
Premiership
– Handre Pollard produced a playmaking masterclass as Leicester Tigers stormed to a 48-27 win against Bath. The Springbok flyhalf scored a try, kicked all five of his attempted conversions and added two penalties to boot for a haul of 21 points. Pollard was joined on the scoresheet by captain Hanro Liebenberg, who capped off a solid display with a try just before half time. Jasper Wiese enjoyed another storming performance at No 8 for Leicester, making the most metres of any Leicester forward (50) and more carries than any of his teammates (18), along with beating five defenders. Bath had two South Africans in their starting lineup – forwards GJ van Velze and Jaco Coetzee – while scrumhalf Louis Schreuder, prop Juan Schoeman and flank Chris Cloete were substitutes.
Handre Pollard vs Bath Highlights
Playing 65 minutes, gaining 29 meters, carrying 9 and making 13 passes. His defence was good making 3 tackles and missing only 2. Pollard also earned himself a try, scoring in the 23rd minute.
Top performance#SaffasAbroad x #GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/wIgWSjIHey
— Darren (@SaffasRugby) March 5, 2023
– Captain Stephan Lewies dotted down to round off a bonus point 40-5 win for Harlequins over Exeter Chiefs at Twickenham that boosted the West London side’s hopes of securing a semi-final spot. Despite only making 15 metres, centre Andre Esterhuizen enjoyed an influential game, making 13 tackles, winning two turnovers and assisting two tries. Wilco Louw and lock Irne Herbst were also in action for Harlequins. Jacques Vermeulen was the only South African involved for Exeter and the flanker had a solid outing, making the most carries for his side (19).
– Benhard Janse van Rensburg‘s excellent form in the Premiership continued as London Irish beat Newcastle Falcons 34-19. The centre made 41 metres from eight carries, beat one defender, made a clean break and completed nine tackles.
– Sale Sharks closed the gap on top-of-the-table Saracens with a 35-24 win in a tightly fought contest. The Du Preez brothers were heavily involved, with flyhalf Robert, back in the No 10 jersey after playing at centre in the previous round, slotting all five of his conversion attempts. Meanwhile, No 8 Jean-Luc du Preez scored a try and made the most carries of any Sale forward in the match (11) while also beating six defenders, the second most of any player in the match. Tighthead prop Coenie Oosthuizen, flank Jono Ross and lock Cobus Wiese also started for Sale, who cut the gap on Saracens to six points. Ivan van Zyl came off the bench early in the second half for the league leaders.
Top 14
– Cobus Reinach scored as Montpellier halted their freefall down the table with a bonus point win over Clermont. Reinach was joined in the starting lineup by fellow Springboks Jan Serfontein and Nico Janse van Rensburg, who was sent to the sin bin in the first half.
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– Relegation-threatened Perpignan climbed out of the bottom two by grounding high-flying Bayonne in a 34-27 win. Tristan Tedder was at fullback for Perpignan, while influential No 8 Uzair Cassiem played off the bench for Bayonne.
– Dillyn Leyds started on the wing, while Raymond Rhule was a substitute as La Rochelle climbed into second place by claiming a hard-fought 36-32 victory over second-from-bottom Pau.
– Cheslin Kolbe continued an excellent weekend for the Springboks abroad by starring in a 37-9 upset by Toulon over Stade Francais. Kolbe scored a first-half try and would have had a brace if he was not illegally prevented from dotting down in the second half, which led to a penalty try for the hosts. Centre Jeremy Ward, scrumhalf James Hall and Bok tighthead Vincent Koch played for Stade, who dropped from second to third.
WATCH: Kolbe robbed in top 14 clash
– The game of the weekend in France saw league leaders Toulouse hold out to beat Racing 92 in a 74-point thriller. Rynhardt Elstadt played at blindside flank for Toulouse, who stretched their lead at the top to 11 points.
Japan League One
– Kwagga Smith led the way for the Springboks in Japan, with a two-try lionhearted performance helping Shizuka Blue Revs come close to upsetting Canon Eagles in a 22-22 stalemate. Two tries by Shizuoka co-captain Smith were not enough to get the Blue Revs home, as the side was pegged back in the final stages and forced to settle for its second draw of the season. Faf de Klerk and Jesse Kriel started for Canon, while SP Marais and Kobus van Dyk were on the bench.
Kwagga Smith scoring his double for the @bluerevs against Canon Eagles in their 22-22 draw.#SaffasAbroad x #LeagueOne pic.twitter.com/KPXjdbsUlc
— Darren (@SaffasRugby) March 3, 2023
– Supersub Burger Odendaal got in on the action as Toshiba Brave Lupus walloped Kobe Steel 51-12. Lock JD Schickerling started for Kobe. The defeat – Kobe’s fifth from their last seven matches – probably spells the end of any chance the 2018 champions have of featuring in the playoffs.
– For the second week running, the Saitama Wild Knights turned up the heat in the second period to overpower a willing opponent, coming from two points behind at halftime to hand Kubota Spears a first loss of the season. Damian de Allende got the bragging rights over Springbok teammate Malcolm Marx in the top-of-the-table clash, which saw Wild Knight extend their lead to seven points.
– Toyota Verblitz shocked Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath 27-20 to deny their hosts the chance to claim second spot on the championship ladder. Pieter-Steph du Toit and Willie le Roux, at flyhalf for the third game running, started for Verblitz, who bounced back from their heavy loss to Canon Eagles in the previous round.
Photo: Dave Wainwright for Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images