
Saffas Abroad: Polly soars again, Marx off the mark
Catch up on the weekend’s action involving South African players in the English Premiership, French Top 14 and Japan League One.
Catch up on the weekend’s action involving South African players in the English Premiership, French Top 14 and Japan League One.
Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard and Sale’s Rob du Preez starred with the boot in round 9 of the English Premiership on Saturday.
Thomas du Toit scored a try for the second successive weekend ahead of the Springboks’ November tour, while Handre Pollard continued guiding Leicester Tigers’ revival in the Premiership.
Handre Pollard’s 14-point haul helped Leicester Tigers seal a comeback victory, while Springbok prop Thomas du Toit opened his try-scoring account for Bath.
The sixth round of the French Top 14 saw the scrumhalves steal the headlines, as Cobus Reinach returned for Montpellier, while Antoine Dupont scored a quickfire hat trick.
French Top 14 leaders Bordeaux Begles are reported to be in talks with a Springbok enforcer after making his signature a “priority”.
Benhard Janse van Rensburg inspired Bristol Bears stay in touch with the top of the Premiership against last season’s finalists Bath, while Robert du Preez’s boot helped Sale Sharks eke out a victory.
Bordeaux, with two South African heavyweights, climbed to the top of France’s Top 14 log, while a former Western Province wing helped hand defending Toulouse a second successive defeat.
Juarno Augustus put in a storming performance as defending Premiership champions Northampton Saints bounced back in style, while Bath and Saracens continued their unbeaten start to the season.
Johann van Graan’s Bath turned the tables on defending champions Northampton Saints, exacting revenge for last season’s Premiership final defeat on the opening night of the new season.