The Sharks flew the South African flag in the opening round of the Investec Champions Cup, but in Amsterdam it was the Cheetahs who stole all hearts with a defiant display of dash and desire in the EPCR Challenge Cup, writes Mark Keohane.

The Sharks, boosted by the bulk of their current Test Springboks, operated in second gear for most of the match against Exeter Chiefs, and hit the accelerator only when they needed to in scoring five tries in their 38-21 home win.

Discipline was an issue for the Sharks in the final quarter, with the hosts reduced to 12 players on 15. Still, the Chiefs could not score a fourth try in that period, which said as much about the scramble defence of the Sharks as it did the impotency of the struggling English Premiership side.

The Sharks, along with the Bulls, look South Africa’s best best for a play-off in the Champions Cup while the Cheetahs got an invaluable draw against France’s Top 14 Perpignan in the EPCR Challenge Cup.

The Bulls were desperately disappointing against Saracens in not maximising gale force wind advantage in the first half. The Bulls, having started with nine Springboks, play the Northampton Saints at Loftus this weekend and should win, but this was a match they’d rather forget. They were not particularly rugby clever in the first 40 minutes and by then the damage was done.

Saracens were powerful and it was another reminder of just how difficult it will be for South Africa teams to win away from home.

The Lions, in the Challenge Cup, were always outsiders in Swansea against the Ospreys after making 14 changes to the side that played Munster in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship. They will be stronger at home this weekend and should be victorious.

The Stormers, ravaged by injuries to their primary Springboks Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe, Deon Fourie, Salmaan Moerat, Evan Roos, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Damian Willemse were determined and feisty in leading the powerful Toulon 14-10 at halftime. But further injuries to Ben-Jason Dixon, concussion to Manie Libbok and a broken leg to flanker Keke Morabe, his second such an injury in the past nine months, left the Cape-based club decimated and they simply did not have the quality in cattle to reduce a 24-14 deficit in the final 10 minutes.

Toulon are a quality side, with experienced halfbacks Baptise Serin and Dan Biggar influential in ensuring the win. The Stormers pack were a treat in their commitment and the outside backs fought bravely but on this particular day the visitors had too much class at halfback and the Stormers had too much indecision as halfback; and that ultimately was the difference.

Toulouse were sensational in dismantling Ulster, Leinster were effortless in the second half in winning away to Bristol and La Rochelle got big pool points on the road against Bath.

The French Top 14 teams are going to be among the favourites for the Investec Champions Cup, with the record six-time champions Toulouse the team to beat. Leinster will always be there at the death, but it will take some big afternoon from someone and some pretty ordinary one from Toulouse to stop a seventh title.

From a South African perspective, I believe both the Cheetahs and Lions can make the play-offs of the Challenge Cup and that the Bulls and Sharks will make the last 16 of the Champions Cup. The key is can one of the latter two or both do enough to host a last 16 and, if successful, a last eight.

Those questions will only be answered in April, when the last 16 and quarter-finals get played, but on the evidence of the opening round, it is difficult to see anything but a Toulouse and Leinster final on the 25th May in Cardiff, unless the two meet in an earlier play-off match.

As for the Stormers, they are depleted, if not defeated.

But their focus will be on the URC and turning around their season when their compliment of Test Boks return.

In the case of the Cheetahs, more matches please! Imagine what the boys from Bloem could do if they were playing in regular European or Australasian competitions.

SNAP REVIEW COURTESY OF THE EPCR

INVESTEC CHAMPIONS CUP

Top performers – Round 1

Points: 21 George Horne (Glasgow Warriors)

Carries: 23 Antoine Dupont (Stade Toulousain)

Metres: 292 Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)

Defenders beaten: 10 Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls)

Offloads: 4 Cameron Hanekon (Vodacom Bulls), Josh McKay (Glasgow Warriors), Benhard Janse van Rensburg (Bristol Bears), Gabriel Ibitoye (Bristol Bears), Antoine Dupont (Stade Toulousain)

Tackles: 24 Nick Isiekwe (Saracens)

Key Stats – Round 1

  • George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) scored more points than any other player in Round 1, a total of 21. This included 15 points from the only hattrick of the weekend.
  • Antoine Dupont (Stade Toulousain) made the most carries at the weekend (23). He offloaded four times (joint-first), assisted four tries (first), and scored a try himself. He also kicked two 50/22s.
  • Matthieu Jalibert (Union Bordeauz-Bégles) scored 12 points – missing none from the tee – assisted two tries, and made 568 kick in play metres in Round 1.
  • Nick Isiekwe (Saracens) made more tackles than any other player at the weekend (24). Teammate Theo McFarland also made 23.
  • In his first appearance for Leinster Rugby, Jordie Barrett played 39 minutes, scored a try, and assisted another.
  • In total, 83 tries and 579 points were scored over all Investec Champions Cup Round 1 matches.
  • The quickest try came from Matthis Lebel (Stade Toulousain) after 1 minute 25 seconds.
  • Finn Russel (Bath Rugby) put the first points of the season on the board in the Bath Rugby v Stade Rochelais opening march with a penalty at 4 minutes.
  • Oscar Jegou (Stade Rochelais) scored the seasons opening try after 17 minutes.


EPCR CHALLENGE CUP

Top performers – Round 1

Points: 17 Luke Matkava (Black Lion)

Carries: 22 Lucas Martin (Aviron Bayonnais)

Metres: 152 Aaron Grandidier Nkanang (Section Paloise)

Defenders beaten: 21 Nadir Megdoud (Aviron Bayonnais)

Lineouts wons: 9 Simon Augry (RC Vannes)

Tackles: 26 Jac Price (Scarlets)

Key Stats – Round 1

  • On debut for Connacht at the weekend, Chay Mullins scored the only hattrick of Round 1.
  • Luka Matvaka (Black Lion) scored more points than any other player at the weekend, a total of 17; he was flawless off the tee.
  • Lucas Martin (Avirion Bayonnais) made the most carries (22) and post-contact metres (31) in Round 1. He and teammate Manu Tuilagi made the joint-most dominant carries (seven).
  • Jeandre Rudolph (Toyota Cheetahs) made the joint-most dominant carries (seven), won the most turnovers outright (four), and scored a try at the weekend.
  • Jac Price and Alex Craig (both Scarlets) made more tackles than any other players in Round 1: 26 and 24 respectively.
  • In total, 49 tries and 384 points were scored over all EPCR Challenge Cup Round 1 matches.
  • The quickest try came from Antoine Aucagne (USAP) in the Toyota Cheetahs v USAP clash at 2 minutes into the match.
  • Aurelian Barreau (Montpellier Hérault Rugby) put the first points of the season on the board in the Dragons RFC v Montpellier Hérault Rugby opener with a penalty at 3 minutes.
  • Seb Blake (Gloucester Rugby) scored the seasons opening try, 10 minutes into the Gloucester Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby match.

Src: keo.co.za