Saffas abroad
24 Apr 2010
Keo.co.za. looks at the South Africans performing in European club competitions this past weekend.
Butch James and Michael Claassens started in Bath’s 35-19 victory over Wasps, a win that propelled them to fourth place on the Premiership log. It was a James linebreak that sparked the first of Joe Maddock’s three tries. Bath will now play Leeds in their final league match. Marco Wentzel’s side beat Worcester 12-10 on Sunday.
In a top of the table clash, the South African-laden Saracens edged Northampton 28-27. Ernst Joubert scored for Sarries to put the Saints under pressure going into the final weekend of Premiership rugby. Saracens will play log-leaders Leicester while Northampton take on London Irish. At the other end of the spectrum, Gcobani Bobo’s Newcastle avoided relegation with a last-gasp 32-30 win over Sale.
Jean de Villiers’ Munster lie in fourth place in the Celtic League standings after losing 15-11 to Ospreys. Elsewhere in Europe, Ross Skeate started in Toulon’s narrow 26-23 win over Brive. Marius Joubert’s Clermont will play against Castres in the Top 14 play-offs while Shaun Sowerby and Toulouse tackle Frans Steyn’s Racing Metro, who finished sixth in the league.
Perpignan and Toulon finished first and second respectively and have already qualified for the Top 14 semi-finals, which will take place after the newly introduced first round of play-offs. Philip Burger came off the bench to score in Perpignan’s 44-0 win over Albi.
11 Comments
25 Apr 2010, 21:24 pm
would be awesome to have a lot of these okes back in sa…
25 Apr 2010, 23:36 pm
There is not enough money in SA to pay these players.
25 Apr 2010, 23:45 pm
JDV, Steyn and Butch … maybe. Sowerby at a stretch. The rest? Send them to the Cheetahs and Lions.
26 Apr 2010, 03:32 am
Butch is ripping it up at Bath. He’s gotta be at 10 against Wales.
26 Apr 2010, 08:08 am
They can come back and play for the Kings !! Would love to see Philip Burger in action again , windgat jaa but a great winger
26 Apr 2010, 11:13 am
I don’t like the guy much due to obvvious reasons, but harsh not to even mention Watson in the Bath win. He won countless turnover ball, and a few great off-loads in the build-up to tries. Won a lot of praise from Sky commontators.
26 Apr 2010, 11:52 am
@gecko(gecko):
True. Watson was outstanding.
26 Apr 2010, 12:43 pm
Butch was fantastic. He makes such a difference to the team. He had a cracker of a game and should definitely be Number 10 against Wales. Michael Claassens made another great appearance – Why he got replaced with that useless scrummy minutes to go, I honestly don’t know. Michael doesn’t get enough credit. The Sharks should get hold of the two of them.
26 Apr 2010, 14:49 pm
Butch should definately be in the mix for the 2011 World Cup team, and for the Wales test. I’d also add Joe van Niekerk’s name to the hat. Besides Spies, the other SA based 8th men have not made the cut at international level!
And Luke Watson also played in the Bath vs Wasps game!!1
26 Apr 2010, 17:37 pm
Claasens was sick all night leading up to the game, hence being replaced.
27 Apr 2010, 13:42 pm
@gecko(gecko):
How do you know Claassens was sick? Well he played fantastically for a sick man if he was… but no reason to put such a useless scrummy on to replace him.
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