Several South Africans will fly the flag high in this weekend’s Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals, writes LINDIZ VAN ZILLA.
BORDEAUX BÈGLES
Defending champions Bordeaux Bègles thrashed a weakened Leicester Tigers 64-14 at the Stade Chaban-Delmas to set up a quarter-final clash against six-time winners and French Top 14 rivals Toulouse.
Prop Carlü Sadie, who was called up to the Springboks’ first virtual alignment camp of the year, started for Bordeaux and helped his side to a 36-0 half-time lead before being substituted early in the second half.
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Burly centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg entered the field in the 50th minute but left it a minute later with a suspected ruptured achilles.
Bordeaux also have loose forward Jean-Luc du Preez on their books, while former Springboks Shaun Sowerby and Heini Adams are on the coaching staff.
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BATH
In an all-English affair, coach Johann van Graan‘s Bath saw off Saracens 31-22 to set up a quarter-final against another Premiership club, the Northampton Saints.
Saracens held a surprise 10-0 lead at half-time, but the introduction of Springbok prop Thomas du Toit was instrumental in shoring up their set-piece and giving them an immediate foothold in the game.
Prop Francois van Wyk came on in the 48th minute as the Bath pack turned the screw, while veteran lock Quinn Roux played the first hour and scrumhalf Bernard van der Linde remained on the bench.
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NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
The Saints held off a determined Castres 49-41 at Franklin’s Gardens.
South African behemoth lock JJ van der Mescht got through his usual mountain of physical work in a 50-minutes stint.
GLASGOW WARRIORS
Glasgow defeated the Vodacom Bulls 25-21 in torrential conditions at Scotstoun Stadium to set up a home quarter-final against Toulon – last-16 victors over the Stormers.
Unbeaten in the pool stage, into the Champions Cup quarter-finals, and also top of the Vodacom URC log, there is growing admiration for what coach Franco Smith and captain Kyle Steyn have built at Glasgow.
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TOULON
In a match that had drama, controversy and heartache, few can begrudge lock David Ribbans, the South African captain of Toulon, who delivered an inspired performance at the Stade Mayol.
In a first half that Toulon dominated for large parts, Ribbans made serious yardage against one of the competition’s best defensive set-ups.
It was a Man of the Match performance from a player who represented England at the 2023 World Cup and has earned 11 Test caps.
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LEINSTER
While there have been grumblings over the impact of Jacques Nienaber‘s impact on Irish rugby, the former Springbok coach oversaw a 49-31 win against Edinburgh at the Aviva Stadium to set up a quarter-final with the Sale Sharks at the same venue.
Leinster led just 28-26 at half-time, but finished strongly against coach Sean Everitt’s side.
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SALE SHARKS
Sale won a closely-fought all-English last-16 tie against Harlequins at The Stoop 26-17.
Sale had a strong South African spine at the heart of their match-winning effort – former Lions centre Marius Louw, No 8 Dan du Preez and flank Jacques Vermeulen played the full 80 minutes, while hard-tackling lock Ernst van Rhyn put in another monumental effort in his 72-minute shift.
The quartet will again be key against Leinster.
Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals (SA times)
Friday, 10 April
Bath vs Northampton Saints (9pm)
Saturday, 11 April
Glasgow Warriors vs Toulon (4pm)
Leinster vs Sale Sharks (6:30pm)
Sunday, 12 April
Bordeaux Bègles vs Toulouse (4pm)
Photo: Tom Maher/INPHO
The post Thomas the Tank leads SA’s Champions Cup charge appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Several South Africans will fly the flag high in this weekend’s Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals.
The post Thomas the Tank leads SA’s Champions Cup charge appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
