Saffas Abroad: Kolisi makes France debut
Siya Kolisi tasted victory on his long-awaited debut for new club Racing 92, lifting them to the summit of France’s Top 14.
Siya Kolisi tasted victory on his long-awaited debut for new club Racing 92, lifting them to the summit of France’s Top 14.
Handre Pollard played an influential role in helping Leicester Tigers claim a derby victory, while fellow Springbok flyhalf Rob du Preez continued his superb form for Sale.
Several Springboks returned to action in the Premiership and French Top 14 after celebrating the World Cup win.
Handre Pollard and Jasper Wiese have been thrown straight back into the action for Leicester Tigers after what the Springbok flyhalf calls a ‘chaotic’ week of World Cup celebrations.
A Springbok lock who skipped the World Cup trophy tour to help his struggling club made an immediate impact in the Top 14, while Tyrone Green scored a stunning try in the Premiership.
Malcolm Marx will miss the upcoming Japanese club rugby season because of an injury that ruled him out of the World Cup, his team Kubota Spears said on Monday.
Robert du Preez tallied 14 points in the Premiership, while Dillyn Leyds suffered defeat in the Top 14, as the early parts of the northern hemisphere seasons continued.
Akker van der Merwe is set to return to South Africa after the Springbok hooker was granted an early release from his contract with English Premiership club Sale Sharks.
Dillyn Leyds scored as La Rochelle beat Bordeaux-Begles in the semi-finals of the Top 14 on Saturday and will face Toulouse in the final next week.
South Africans must embrace the global impact made by the country’s best players in top leagues abroad and surrender the safety blanket of the underdogs tag, writes MARK KEOHANE.