Handre Pollard kicked eight points as Leicester Tigers took advantage of Johann van Graan’s understrength Bath, while Dillyn Leyds scored in La Rochelle’s rout of Toulouse.
English Premiership
– In another impressive outing from the double world champion, Handre Pollard landed four conversions as Leicester Tigers secured a 35-22 victory at Welford Road on Sunday, denying Bath the chance to end 2023 at the top of the table.
Fellow World Cup winner Jasper Wiese was at his industrial best from the back of the scrum and in the loose for the Tigers, while prop Frans van Wyk and loose forward Kyle Hatherell chipped in off the bench.
Bath boss Johann van Graan opted to rest several first-choice players ahead of next week’s south-west derby against Gloucester, and defeat without a bonus point meant the men from Somerset remained fourth, still just two points behind leaders Northampton.
– In the English capital, Springbok scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl scored one of five tries for Saracens in a convincing 37-19 win against Newcastle Falcons on Saturday, with veteran lock Sebastian de Chaves at No 4 for the visitors.
– No 8 Juarno Augustus and inside centre Burger Odendaal claimed bragging rights in a 21-17 victory for league front-runners Northampton Saints over a Sale Sharks outfit that started prop Nick Schonert, lock Cobus Wiese, Ernst van Rhyn and Jean-Luc du Preez in the back row, and Jean-Luc’s older brother Rob at 12.
– Harlequins fullback Tyrone Green saw yellow, but skipper Stephan Lewies, with World Cup winner Andre Estheruizen and replacement lock Irné Herbst contributed to a 32-26 triumph against openside flanker Ruan Ackermann and Gloucester at Twickenham Stoop.
– On Friday night, loose forward Jacques Vermeulen dotted down, playing off the bench as Exeter came from behind to beat Bristol 24-14 at Ashton Gate Stadium. Benhard Janse van Rensburg started for the Bears at inside centre.
French Top 14
– Dillyn Leyds featured prominently as defending two-time European champions La Rochelle thrashed Toulouse 29-8 on Saturday, before fellow former Stormers star Marvin Orie and flanker Jaco van Tonder put in strong shifts for Perpignan to beat Castres at Stade Pierre-Fabre on Sunday.
Dillyn Leyds cutting the defense to score his second try of the Top 14 season.#SaffasAbroad 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/10nZGhkAmI
— Darren (@SaffasRugby) December 31, 2023
– Cobus Reinach and Nico Janse van Rensburg were on the losing side with Montpellier in a narrow 20-18 result at Lyon, who named Thaakir Abrahams among the substitutes. Siya Kolisi and Trevor Nyakane were on the wood for Racing 92 in a reverse against Bayonne. Loose forward Uzair Cassiem was among the try scorers for Bayonne in the 27-23 result, while Racing flyhalf Tristan Tedder kicked 13 points.
Uzair Cassiem scoring his third Top 14 try of the season 🔥 @avironrugbypro fans got pumped by this 😮💨#SaffasAbroad pic.twitter.com/rHN1Tjo6CS
— Darren (@SaffasRugby) December 31, 2023
– Former Vodacom Bulls winger Madosh Tambwe continued his recent superb form for Bordeaux-Begles with a first-half brace of tries in an exhilarating 40-35 victory over Clermont on Friday. Tighthead prop Carlu Sadie featured as a substitute for the winners.
Madosh Tambwe actually scored twice (this being his second) against Clermont, both in a similar hotstepping fashion.#SaffasAbroad pic.twitter.com/YBi40GBk8S
— Darren (@SaffasRugby) December 30, 2023
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images