Handre Pollard continued his excellent form for Leicester Tigers in a big Premiership victory, ahead of the Champions Cup opener against the DHL Stormers.
– Springbok flyhalf Pollard slotted four out of five conversions to help Leicester Tigers feast on the Newcastle Falcons in a 47-3 victory on Sunday evening. Pollard played 53 minutes before he was substituted, ahead of the home Champions Cup opener against the Stormers, which will potentially see him face-off with Bok teammate Manie Libbok. Another Springbok, No 8 Jasper Wiese, joined Pollard on the scoresheet with his first try of the season for Leicester, who have won three games in a row.
– Fullback Tyrone Green got the ball rolling for Harlequins with an early try in the 36-3 win against league leaders Sale Sharks in London. Springbok centre Andre Esterhuizen played the full 80 minutes for third-placed Harlequins, who closed the gap on Sale to just a single point. No 8 Dan du Preez, centre Robert du Preez, flank Ernst van Rhyn, lock Cobus Wiese and prop Nic Schonert all started for the Sharks.
– Missing star flyhalf Owen Farrell due to injury, Saracens suffered a 12-18 home loss to Northampton Saints, ahead of a trip to Pretoria to face the Vodacom Bulls in the Champions Cup. Former Bulls scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl started for Saracens and played 60 minutes.
– Bath bounced back from a narrow defeat to Sale in style by claiming a 41-24 win over Exeter Chiefs. While Johann van Graan‘s side did not have a South African in their starting lineup, they called on prop Juan Schoeman, lock GJ van Velze and flank Jaco Coetzee from the bench. Exeter had loose forward Jacques Vermeulen in their starting lineup and former Cheetahs flank Aidon Davis on the bench.
Top 14
– The surprise package of the Top 14 season, Pau, suffered a second defeat in three games ahead of their Challenge Cup opener against the Sharks in Durban. South African-born Scotland flank Cornell du Preez started for Toulon, who powered to a 36-13 win. Despite the loss, Pau remain two points off the top of the table.
– Bolstered by the timely return of wing Dillyn Leyds, La Rochelle thrashed Perpignan 35-6 for their fourth win in nine games. The defending European champions, who visit Cape Town to take on the Stormers in the Champions Cup on 16 December, have endured an inconsistent start to their domestic campaign. Perpignan, meanwhile, were without Springbok lock Marvin Orie as they prepare to host the Lions in the first round of the Challenge Cup.
– Bayonne piled more misery on Montpellier by claiming a 34-19 victory, handing the 2022 champions an eighth defeat of the season. Springbok scrumhalf Cobus Reinach scored his first try of the campaign for bottom-of-the-table Montpellier, who had Jan Serfontein at centre and Nico Janse van Rensburg at flank. Springbok No 8 Uzair Cassiem started for Bayonne.
– Without Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, league leaders Racing 92 suffered an 18-23 loss to Clermont. Springbok prop Trevor Nyakane started at loosehead for Racing, while flyhalf Tristan Tedder two penalties and a conversion, but was also yellow carded at the end of the first half.
Photo: Joe Giddens / PA
