Potgieter boosts Bayonne’s survival quest
16 Apr 2012
GARETH DUNCAN looks at the Saffas who impressed in the leagues around the world over the weekend.
While Toulouse and Clermont fight it out for first place in the French Top 14 standings with only three rounds remaining, there’s a tight race in the relegation battle.
Only six log points separate Bayonne (who are 13th with 38 log points) and Perpignan (who are ninth with 44 log points) in the bottom half of the table, which creates an intense finish to the 2011-12 campaign. Bordeaux, Brive and Biarritz also feature above the danger zone. Hooker Jody Jenneker, scrumhalf Ricky Januarie and lock Coenie Basson’s Lyon are almost certain for the drop as they are last with 30 log points.
Bayonne’s survival hopes were given a boost after a 24-19 win over tighthead prop Eugene van Staden’s Biarritz at the Stade Jean Dauger, mainly thanks to flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter, who kicked seven penalties to seal the crucial win. The victory was Bayonne’s second triumph in their last six league outings.
Bayonne flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter converted seven penalties
Former Cheetahs and Sharks pivot Potgieter will play a key role in the coming weeks for his team, as they will have a challenging finish to the season. A must-win encounter against Lyon next weekend will be followed by a home game against Agen and a trip to Castres.
In other results in France, flyhalf Conrad Barnard slotted 17 points in Agen’s 22-13 win over lock Bakkies Botha and captain Joe van Niekerk’s Toulon. Tighthead prop Gert Muller, lock Dewald Senekal and flank Adri Badenhorst also featured for the victors.
Fullback Frans Steyn (who gained 63m with ball in hand and kicked a penalty) impressed in Racing Metro’s 40-19 win over Brive, who had fullback Scott Spedding, wing Ronnie Cooke, inside centre Riaan Swanepoel (who scored a try and kicked eight points), tighthead prop Pat Barnard, lock Retief Uys and No 8 Antonie Claassen in their run-on XV. Racing also fielded lock Francois van der Merwe and No 8 Jacques Cronje.
Wing Brent Russell’s Clermont downed lock Anton van Zyl’s Stade Francais 25-9. Russell rushed 46m and beat two defenders, while Van Zyl won four and stole two lineout feeds and made six tackles.
In England, Saffa-laden Saracens bounced back from their disappointing 24-19 league defeat to Harlquins and their European Cup quarter-final exit with a 28-19 win over tighthead prop Faan Rautenbach’s London Irish. Inside centre Brad Barritt, scrumhalf Neil de Kock, No 8 Ernst Joubert, tighthead prop Matt Stevens and hooker Schalk Brits all started for Sarries, while lock Mouritz Botha featured off the bench. Brits was the standout performer again this week, rushing 47m with ball in hand as a primary ball-carrier and forcing one turnover.
Saracens are now third on the log behind Harlequins and Leicester, with only two rounds remaining. They’ll be desperate for a top two finish to host a semi-final.
Director of rugby Gary Gold’s Newcastle Falcons picked up a 29-20 win over Gloucester. Fullback Greg Goosen and wing Corne Uys started for Newcastle.
In the Pro12, loosehead prop Heinke van der Merwe and reserve hooker Richardt Strauss were solid in Leinster’s 54-13 drubbing of Edinburgh. Loosehead prop Wian du Preez helped Munster to a 35-29 win over Glasgow.
Lock Corniel van Zyl starred for Treviso in their 33-32 edging of wing Tonderai Chavhanga’s Newport Gwent Dragons. Van Zyl was a kingpin in the lineouts, winning five throws off his team’s feed and stealing one of the Dragons’ feeds, while he was also made six tackles and forced one turnover.
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11 Comments
16 Apr 2012, 07:55 am
Saffa Dragons
16 Apr 2012, 08:05 am
riaan swanepoel kicked 8 points?? when the hell did he learn to kick hahaha, good to c JLP doing well for himself, was a shame what we did to him here at the sharks
16 Apr 2012, 08:09 am
How is this for a Bok Barbarians team…
15. Scott Spedding.
14. Brent Russell.
13. Jacques Fourie.
12. Francois Steyn.
11. Tonderai Chavanga.
10. Jacque-Louis Potgietor.
9. Neil De Kock.
8. Jacque Cronje.
7. Earnst Joubert (c).
6. Joe Van Niekerk.
5. Corniel Van Zyl.
4. Anton Van Zyl.
3. Faan Rautenbach.
2. Schalk Brits.
1. Heinke Van Der Merwe.
Meyneke Meyer might want to take a look at a few of these guys as soon as possible.
16 Apr 2012, 08:11 am
@seabiscuit(seabiscuit)-2: I agree the Sharks management made a huge bugger up there signing so many 10′s into their squad knowing that Patrick Lambie was going to fill that role eventually after returning from the World Cup. Even Meyer Bosman is proving surplas with Francois Steyn arriving soon.
FRANCOIS STEYN YOU BEAUTY with running 63 mts in his recent game
16 Apr 2012, 08:27 am
“Russell rushed 46m…”
“Brits was the standout performer again this week, rushing 47m…”
Someone’s been watching way too much NFL…
16 Apr 2012, 08:30 am
The fact so many good but not great players are able to go over there and be stand-out players for their teams reinforces my view that the league is not nearly as tough as our Super comp down here.
16 Apr 2012, 11:34 am
stormersboy – I still believe going up north is a good confidence booster for some of theses players, look Ruan!!
Monty came back a better player than before and is now forever etched in Bok folklore.
16 Apr 2012, 13:55 pm
@SharkaZulu(SharkaZulu)-5:
lol
question is. How many of saffas would make a Bok side???
16 Apr 2012, 14:19 pm
Thank you very much Mr Potgieter!! theres still hope for Baiona,
¡¡Gora Euskadi!!
16 Apr 2012, 15:37 pm
@ShaunSwindon(Karma-zaf)-3:
I would love to see the Poms have to open up their tour against this lot (minus F. Steyn)
They will play lekker bedondered, and soften up the limeys for the real team.
16 Apr 2012, 21:00 pm
@race of tan(race of tan)-7:
Ruan’s name has been missing from all these posts and permutations. Is he no longer in the mix?
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