Saffa-laden Sarries en route to Euro play-offs

Saffa-laden Sarries en route to Euro play-offs

14 Jan 2013

GARETH DUNCAN looks at the Saffas who impressed in the leagues around the world over the weekend.

Saracens picked up a great 37-28 comeback win over Racing Metro in Nantes, which gives them pole position in Group 1 with only the last round of league fixtures remaining.

The French club held 25-18 lead at half-time, but a strong second-half performance saw the English side secure victory.

While flyhalf Owen Farrell was the star of the show, kicking 32 points via 10 penalties and a conversion, nine South African-born players were part of the victors’ match 22.

Inside centre Brad Barritt, hooker Schalk Brits, tighthead prop Matt Stevens, lock Mouritz Botha and No 8 Ersnt Joubert started the clash, while hooker John Smit, prop Petrus du Plessis, flank Nick Fenton-Wells and scrumhalf Neil de Kock were on the bench.

Barritt, Botha and Joubert put together impressive 80-minute performances, making 14 tackles between them.

Lock Francois van der Merwe and loose forward Jacques Cronje featured for Racing Metro.

Saracens will have to beat winless Edinburgh to secure a quarter-final place in the European Cup.

Hooker Gary Botha scored a try in Toulouse’s 35-14 win over scrumhalf Tobias Botes’ Treviso. Reserve prop Gurthro Steenkamp also came off the bench to make an impact for the victors. Botes kicked three penalties for the Italian side.

Scrumhalf Rory Kockott kicked four penalties for Castres in their 18-12 loss to loose forward Gerrit-Jan van Velze’s Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens. No 8 Antonie Claassen and his replacement Pedrie Wannenburg also featured for the French club.

In the European Challenge Cup, Bath secured their quarter-final spot with a 19-16 win over tighthead prop Gert Muller’s Agen. Flank Francois Louw delivered an impressive all-round performance, which included eight tackles.

The London Wasps smashed flank Meyer Swanepoel’s Mogliano 71-7. Skipper Marco Wentzel scored a try in a top display, which included 50m gained with ball in hand, three turnovers, 15 tackles and four clean lineout claims.


20 Comments

  • 1.grant10: Reply to this comment
    14 Jan 2013, 15:56 pm

    go the Saffas!!!!

  • 2.grant10: Reply to this comment
    14 Jan 2013, 15:57 pm

    How I wish F Louw was back at the Stormers!

  • 3.grant10: Reply to this comment
    14 Jan 2013, 16:20 pm

    I see the Stade Francisse? M Steyn rumours are circulating again…

  • 4.victoriabok: Reply to this comment
    14 Jan 2013, 17:06 pm

    @grant10-3:

    Hey, moenie ons verniet bly maak nie

  • 5.Hondo: Reply to this comment
    14 Jan 2013, 17:56 pm

    Hard fought rugby it was, I wonder how long before Edward Griffith will start sparring the issue of biased refereeing with the Heineken Cup organisation?
    The Dentist was the best forward for Racing, I would take him over his brother Flip any time
    Mujati still recovering from the vocious tackle by Neil de Kock 2 weeks ago.

  • 6.victoriabok: Reply to this comment
    14 Jan 2013, 18:15 pm

    @Hondo-5:

    Good game, I still like Ernst better than Spies

    Barney looks a bit unfit though

  • 7.Hondo: Reply to this comment
    14 Jan 2013, 19:04 pm

    @victoriabok-6:
    A happy new year from the land of gold and honey to the land of eternal rain :)
    Just about any SA #8 would be a better option than Spies, like I am stating the obvious?
    Barney hasn’t looked fit last 5-6 years, I think the Racing pack with Cronje and Vd Merwe were too ‘dynamic’ for him but he did stabilise the Saris’scrum for sure.
    It was a men’s rugby, I enjoyed it.!

  • 8.papaown: Reply to this comment
    14 Jan 2013, 19:42 pm

    “Barritt , Botha and Joubert put together
    impressive 80-minute performances, making
    14 tackles between them”

    And just how is putting 14 tackles between 3 players worthy of mentioning?

    those are the numbers Coetsee and Kolisi average individually per game Ffs

  • 9.papaown: Reply to this comment
    14 Jan 2013, 19:44 pm

    if Guthro is playing reserve for Toulouse can we please agree to stop mentioning his name when we discuss Springbok looseheads ???

  • 10.gecko: Reply to this comment
    14 Jan 2013, 20:26 pm

    Steenkamp is first choice for Toulouse. Yesterday they were playing Treviso. That is like playing the Griffons, so loads of first choice played of bench.

  • 11.victoriabok: Reply to this comment
    14 Jan 2013, 20:37 pm

    @Hondo-7:

    The Racing scrum was impressive, Barney didn’t help much

  • 12.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    14 Jan 2013, 22:45 pm

    Jissus……we f#cked those pacific island neanderthals up in the cricket ! Are there any of them hanging around here ? As good as they are in rugby – they are supremely kak in cricket.

  • 13.victoriabok: Reply to this comment
    14 Jan 2013, 22:47 pm

    @gecko-10:

    Dis omdat Naas nie meer vir hulle speel nie

  • 14.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    14 Jan 2013, 23:54 pm

    @Dusky-12:
    lol
    We know we are useless at cricket, and when we lose we dont blame no one but our in competent team…..no blame on the umpires or ground or fans or the alignment of the stars, we are just useless. But i am sure when it comes to the one dayers we might have a better show….remember who knocked you out of the cricket world cup.
    Oh and look out…. a kiwi recently on here was told that calling South Africans neanderthals is racist :-)

  • 15.stormer in a teacup: Reply to this comment
    15 Jan 2013, 03:17 am

    @Dusky-12: Easy with the racist demeaning language, bud. Hurricane has a point.

  • 16.whatthe: Reply to this comment
    15 Jan 2013, 04:06 am

    @stormer in a teacup-15:

    No mate, Hurricane has no point, his countrymen (Read poppadoos) mouth off about Afrikaaner neaderthals…..whats the difference? They both neanderthals, but the just speak different languages? :)

  • 17.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    15 Jan 2013, 05:17 am

    @whatthe-16:
    As i stated… we will name Poppa as he was called a racist for saying the above word. It is exactly what i said to dusky but you are saying i don’t have a point?
    Just face it, you hate it when i point out something about your countrymen.
    I wasnt having ago at Dusky at all, just telling him the way it was a few weeks ago.
    I suggest you settle down, sit back and watch shortland street tonight and have a few kinas,swish it back with a bit of lion red and go to sleep

  • 18.Skeppie: Reply to this comment
    15 Jan 2013, 14:13 pm

    @grant10-2: Gurthro still on the bench……his star seems to be waning

  • 19.Rhys7: Reply to this comment
    15 Jan 2013, 15:19 pm

    Habana leaving frees up huge money… Please sign Flo!!!!! And J Fourie

    My Stormers 2014 team:

    15 Taute
    14 Van Den Heever
    13 Fourie
    12 De Jongh
    11 Aplon
    10 Jantjes
    9 Groom
    8 Vermeulen
    7 Kolisi
    6 Louw
    5 Bekker
    4 Etzebeth
    3 Cilliers
    2 Fourie
    1 Kitshoff

  • 20.wls1: Reply to this comment
    15 Jan 2013, 18:15 pm

    Yest again the journalisim is just plain ****.
    How can you all of a sudden include Matt Stevens?
    Hes a pomey who never played for South Africa.
    so his origin is RSA? WTF lmfao.
    I have a valid idea. why not look at any Rugby players around the world that have Surnames that have south african or Holland origins? then just name them in your article to give it a bit more Clout.

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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