It was a good weekend for the Springbok forwards playing abroad as Jasper Wiese came up trumps in England, while over in Japan, Malcolm Marx scored his eighth try of the season.
Premiership
– Juarno Augustus capped off a storming performance with a try in a 45-26 victory for Northampton Saints over Bath. Along with his try, the big No 8, made 12 carries for 53 metres, beat six defenders and completed two offloads.
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Bleach blonde Juarno Augustus is a vibe ? pic.twitter.com/wsIbrzUJVm
— Northampton Saints ? (@SaintsRugby) March 11, 2023
– There was more injury frustration for Jacques Vermeulen as Exeter Chiefs claimed a hard-fought 24-5 win over Newcastle Falcons. Having just returned from a torn calf injury with two strong performances, Vermeulen limped off in the first half and will undergo scans on his foot. Vermeulen was replaced by Aidon Davis, who joined lock Jannes Kirsten in Exeter’s pack.
? – @exeterchiefs forward Jacques Vermeulen to undergo scan on Monday to assess extent of foot injury sustained in @premrugby win over @FalconsRugby https://t.co/B1TQCwsAmY#EXEvNEW pic.twitter.com/8v2eT0AStQ
— Exeter Chiefs (@ExeterChiefs) March 12, 2023
– Jasper Wiese came out tops in his battle with opposite number Ruan Ackermann as Leicester Tigers enhanced their playoff hopes with a bonus point 26-5 away win over Gloucester. Along with making a massive 23 carries (the most of any player in the match) for 50 metres, Wiese scored the all-important fourth try in the final play. Ackermann, meanwhile, put in a good defensive shift, completing 15 tackles and winning two turnovers. Handre Pollard put in another solid performance at flyhalf for Leicester, missing only one of his conversion attempts and beating two defenders. Captain Hanro Liebenberg and lock Eli Snyman also started for Leicester.
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See what Hanro Liebenberg had to say to ???? after retaining The Slater Cup in Gloucester this afternoon.#TheSlaterCup ? | #GLOvLEI ? #COYT ?
— Leicester Tigers (@LeicesterTigers) March 12, 2023
– London Irish gave their semi-final aspirations a significant boost with a 36-18 win against second-placed Sale Sharks. Benhard Janse van Rensburg produced another influential performance in the Exiles’ midfield, making 10 carries, eight passes, one offload, one linebreak, eight tackles and winning two turnovers. No 8 Jean-Luc du Preez scored a try for Sale, while Robert du Preez, back at centre to accommodate George Ford, added a conversion and two penalties, while beating four defenders. Coenie Oosthuizen, Cobus Wiese, Jono Ross and Dan du Preez were also in action for the Sharks.
– Harlequins’ hopes of finishing in the top four suffered a setback in a 51-26 loss to Bristol Bears. Stephan Lewies captained a Harlequins side featuring tighthead prop Wilco Louw and centre Andre Esterhuizen.
Japan League One
– Marcell Coetzee scored a try, but it was not enough to stop Kobe Steelers from being demolished 41-26 by the Black Rams for their third loss in a row. Kobe, who had JD Schickerling at lock, cannot make the playoffs and are now just two points outside the relegation zone.
– There were far better fortunes for Bok pair Damian de Allende and Lood de Jager as Wild Knights continued their league dominance with a 41-29 away win against Suntory Sungoliath. Having trailed 17-3 at half time, the Wild Knights scored 38 points in a dominant second-half performance to stay unbeaten at the top of the table.
– First-half tries by South African-born Japanese representative Pieter ‘Lappies’ Labuschagne and Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx helped set up a 40-27 win over Shizuoka Blue Revs. Marx scored his eighth try in 10 appearances this season and was joined by lock David Bulbring, centre Rikus Pretorius and Japan-capped fullback Gerhard van den Heever in Kubota Spears’ lineup. Springbok flank Kwagga Smith captained Blue Revs.
– Inspired by flank Pieter-Steph du Toit and flyhalf Willie le Roux, Toyota Verblitz swatted aside the Kintetsu Liners to earn a 62-24 victory. The win was Verblitz’s third in four games.
– Canon Eagles rallied at half time and scored 36 unanswered points to come from a 21-5 deficit and beat Mitsubishi Dynaboars 41-21. Fullback SP Marais was among the second-half try scorers, while Springboks Faf de Klerk and Jesse Kriel also had solid outings.
Photo: Bob Bradford – CameraSport via Getty Images