Brits powers Sarries to title
29 May 2011
GARETH DUNCAN looks at the Saffas who impressed in Europe over the weekend.
Hooker Schalk Brits delivered a Man of the Match performance in Saracen’s 22-18 win over Leicester in the English Premiership final at Twickenham. The former WP and Stormers hardman was instrumental on attack and defence against the defending champions, crafting the James Short try in the first half and forming a big part in the Saracens’ guard that restricted Leicester successfully.
Up front, lock Mouritz Botha and skipper Ernst Joubert also did the hard yards while scrumhalf Neil de Kock and inside centre Brad Barritt were impressive in securing Saracens’ first title.
In the Celtic League final, loosehead prop Wian du Preez came off the bench to help Munster to a 19-9 win over hooker Richardt Strauss and loosehead prop Heinke van der Merwe’s Leinster, who won the European Cup the week before after beating Northampton.
In the French Top 14 semi-finals, loosehead prop Daan Human displayed a good performance as Toulouse thumped Clermont 29-6. Outside centre Marius Joubert, who was impressive in the semi-final qualifier against Biarritz last weekend, also did well but he couldn’t inspire Clermont on this occassion. It was Joubert’s final match for the French club after a four-year stint and he now heads down to the Sharks.
Racing Metro suffered a big upset as they lost 26-25 to Montpellier in the second play-off. Replacement centre Grant Rees contributed to the victory at the death against a Racing side that featured inside centre Frans Steyn and No 8 Jacques Cronje.
Racing’s early exit will see Steyn head home a week earlier than expected. With Super Rugby only ending on 9 July, the Springbok fullback will be able to get his allocated four-week rest before the start of the Tri-Nations.
14 Comments
29 May 2011, 14:06 pm
schalk Brits was simply magnificent! If only we would choose on merit this man would be the perfect impact player for last 25 for Bissy.
What a great game he had, and by all accounts the best 2 in the Aviva league.
29 May 2011, 14:08 pm
pity stormers could not have got F Steyn for rest of our super rugby campaign….heavens knows Coleman is not the answer, the poor kid froze badly….thank heavenss Giteau did not play!
29 May 2011, 14:09 pm
Sarries defence was outlandish.
The last play involved more than seven minutes of overtime and thirty plus phases of Tigers attack, most of which were within five yards of the goal line. It was impressive that the Tigers could do that in attack, but jaw-dropping that Sarries could hold them out.
Incredible final seven minutes of the english premiership.
29 May 2011, 14:13 pm
@funkyzoo(funkyzoo)-3: yeah….grit and determination incredible…..fantastic display of rugby!
29 May 2011, 14:29 pm
@grant10(grant10)-2:
At least Earl won’t freeze – he will either blow hot or cold- interesting times.
5 points against the rebels is a must.
29 May 2011, 14:59 pm
@funkyzoo(funkyzoo)-3:
They had to defend without giving Barens the pretex to award a penalty try agains them, something which Barenes surly tried hard
Did you see the penalties count
29 May 2011, 15:02 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-5: earl has to start…..I have some faith in him at 10…..just not at 15 imo
29 May 2011, 15:09 pm
Good win for saracens, think they beat them earlier in the year too, but leicester look like a tough pack. Saracens do play clever rugby, im personally not a big fan of venter, bit of a whinger, but he looks to have done really well with them.
29 May 2011, 15:22 pm
Schalk Brits = Outstanding…don’t think he missed one line-out throw. And all of this is a final. Well done.
29 May 2011, 16:04 pm
Gareth you forgot Montpelliers lock Drickus Hancke. He is south african too
29 May 2011, 16:32 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-6:
KIt was good clean, hard defence. There were some offside infringements that the ref didn’t call, but they were well within the norm for a “goal line stand”.
Amazing that the premiership final was decided on such a fine margin. One missed tackle and the champions would have been the Tigers.
Brits was awesome in the loose and tight-loose.
29 May 2011, 17:01 pm
@Wolf(Wolf)-9: Slightly different to when he was playing for Stormers & WP. I can recall him not being able to hit the backside of a donkey with a banjo in 2 crucial games for the Stormers against the Lions & Bulls one year.
30 May 2011, 04:01 am
@grant10(grant10)-1:
Agreed 100% Britz has been playing great footie the whole season and should be in the WC squad.
It pains me to say this, as Smit has been a great captain IMO, but he ain’t a 1 or a 2 and got worked over on Sat.
He must stay at 2 and get the first 30 and then come off and keep score or something. Maybe give the after match speech………….
30 May 2011, 08:59 am
Mouritz Botha has moved up rather nicely from the WP Vodacom Cup team
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