There were plenty of South Africans in action as the Premiership, Top 14 and Japan’s League One reached the business end, with teams starting to secure their semi-final places.
Premiership
– Juarno Augustus and England-capped lock David Ribbans both got in on the action as Northampton Saints demolished Newcastle Falcons 66-5 to seal a place in the semi-finals with a game to spare. No 8 Augustus scored just before half time, while Ribbans capped the win with a try six minutes before fulltime. As they are now seven points ahead of fifth-placed London Irish, the fourth-placed Saints cannot be caught in the final round of Premiership action on 6 May.
– 14-man Exeter Chiefs warmed up for their Champions Cup semi-final against La Rochelle with a comeback 22-21 win against Bristol Bears. Blindside flank Jannes Kirsten turned in a workmanlike performance, making 19 tackles, the most of any Exeter player in the match. Replacement forward Aidon Davis made a solid impact off the bench for the Chiefs, beating two defenders from five carries and winning a turnover.
– Harlequins’ quest for a top-four finish came to an end after falling to a 45-35 home loss to Bath at Twickenham. Andre Esterhuizen endured a difficult game as he was unfortunate to be yellow-carded for a head-on-head collision with Bath’s Ollie Lawrence and the Springbok centre had to be substituted to due concussion. Experienced second-rower Irne Herbst also started for Harlequins, while Bath had lock GJ van Velze and flank Chris Cloete in their starting lineup. The loss left Harlequins in seventh place, 11 points outside the top four.
– Having already secured their place in the top four, Sale Sharks ensured a home semi-final with a closely-fought 25-22 away victory over Gloucester. Jean-Luc du Preez scored his second try in two games, the only try of the first half, and was joined on the scoresheet by Jono Ross. Along with his try, Du Preez made 12 carries, beat four defenders and made 14 tackles, while he demonstrated his prowess as a lock by winning four lineouts. Outside centre Robert du Preez, hooker Akker van der Merwe and tighthead prop Coenie Oosthuizen were also in action for Sale.
– Saracens ensured they will finish top of the Premiership Rugby table, and ended London Irish’s semi-final push in the process, with a 45-21 win. Scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl played 70 minutes for Saracens and won three turnovers. Benhard Janse van Rensburg had a muted 80-minute outing at outside centre for London Irish, who had former Stormers hooker Mike Willemse on the bench.
Top 14
– Springbok winger Dillyn Leyds scored as La Rochelle beat Clermont 26-13 in the French top-flight on Saturday ahead of the Champions Cup semi-final with Exeter. Kyle Hatherell started at No 8 for La Rochelle, who cut the deficit on table-topping Toulouse to just one point with three rounds to go.
– Fullback Tristan Tedder scored 10 points off the kicking tee as struggling Perpignan snatched an upset 30-21 win over playoff-chasing Racing 92. Both teams were reduced to 14 men in the first half when Anton Bresler was hit high in a tackle and the Racing lock responded seconds later by dangerously charging into a breakdown. Bok tighthead Trevor Nyakane started for Racing, who had fullback Warrick Gelant on the bench.
– A 66-point thriller saw newly promoted Bayonne bounce back from three successive losses with a narrow victory over Montpellier. No 8 Uzair Cassiem started for Bayonne, who close the gap on the top six to two points. Jan Serfontein scored a try for Montpellier, who also had Springboks Cobus Reinach and Nico Janse van Rensburg in their lineup. The result saw Montpellier suffer back-to-back defeats in a difficult season for the defending champions.
– Stade Francais stunned league leaders Toulouse in a home 19-10 win for their second victory in a row. Springbok tighthead Vincent Koch, former Sharks lock JJ van der Mescht and scrumhalf James Hall were all on the bench for Stade Francais as the hosts strengthened their position in the top four. Rynhardt Elstadt started for Toulouse, who now lead by just one point after two losses in the last three games.
– Lyon’s place in the top six came under further pressure after a 23-9 defeat to Bordeaux, their fourth loss in a row. Arno Botha started for Lyon, who are level on 56 points with seventh-placed Racing 92.
Japan League One
– After suffering a historic first loss in three years, defending champions Wild Knights returned to winning ways in the final round with a comfortable 32-22 away win over Brave Lupus, who missed out on a place in the playoffs. Lood de Jager started for Wild Knights, who finished top of the table and will host Canon Eagles in the semi-finals.
– A three-try burst in the final six minutes landed Kubota Spears a 15-point victory and a major psychological blow over semi-final rivals Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath in a see-saw 39-24 win on Saturday. Malcolm Marx scored a try for Frans Ludeke‘s Spears, but it was disallowed for obstruction. Japan-capped fullback Gerhard van den Heever was yellow-carded in the second half, but scored an 80-metre intercept try on his return to the field. He was joined on the scoresheet by teammate Ruan Botha. Kubota Spears finished in second place and will host third-placed Sungoliath in the semi-finals.
– Assured of fourth place and a spot in the semi-finals after Brave Lupus’ defeat on Friday, Yokohama Canon Eagles cut loose as they strolled to a 52-26 victory over an outgunned Kobelco Kobe Steelers. Jesse Kriel scored a first-half try for the Eagles, while fullback SP Marais contributed 10 points with his boot. Faf de Klerk returned to the Eagles’ starting lineup after playing off the bench in the last three rounds.
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