South African teams were in top form in European competition last week, and six SA-born players were awarded with places in the best XV of the third round of the 2022-23 Champions Cup.
The Sharks secured their place in the last 16 of the competition when they romped to a 32-3 bonus-point win over an outclassed Bordeaux-Begles on Saturday, while the DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls positioned themselves to follow suit, after thrilling wins against London Irish and the Exeter Chiefs, respectively.
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Sharks trio Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nche and Jaden Hendrikse, along with Bulls duo Johan Grobbelaar and Wandisile Simelane, join Montpellier star Paul Willemse in a standout lineup that includes eight players from the British Isles.
Simelane, Hendrikse and Willemse all scored a brace last week, while Grobbelaar also barged over for the Bulls, as Etzebeth and Nche formed part of a powerful Sharks pack that proved too strong for the ill-disciplined Bordeaux.
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