Andre Esterhuizen and Thomas du Toit both continued their excellent try-scoring form in the Champions Cup round of 16, while Siya Kolisi suffered an injury blow.
Champions Cup
– Andre Esterhuizen scored his ninth try of the season as Harlequins defeated Glasgow Warriors 28-24 in a sensational opening game to the Round of 16. Esterhuizen gathered flyhalf Marcus Smith’s cross-field kick to score Harlequins’ first try of the match. Lock Irne Herbst, flank Stephan Lewies and fullback Tyrone Green also started for Harlequins, who face Bordeaux in the quarter-finals. Franco Smith‘s Glasgow were captained by Kyle Steyn and had loosehead prop Nathan McBeth and lock Sintu Manjezi in action.
– Exeter Chiefs came from a half-time deficit to beat Johann van Graan‘s Bath 21-15 in windy conditions at Sandy Park. Bok prop Thomas du Toit took his remarkable try-scoring tally this season to nine, when he forced his way over for Bath in the first half. Loose forward Jaco Coetzee, lock Quinn Roux, loosehead prop Juan Schoeman and scrumhalf Louis Schreuder also played for Bath.
– Bordeaux produced a sensational display of attacking rugby to demolish three-time champions Saracens 45-12, after leading 10-0 at half time. Scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl started for Saracens.
– Jacques Nienaber‘s Leinster secured a rematch against two-time defending champions La Rochelle with a 36-22 victory over Leicester Tigers. Lock Jason Jenkins played 20 minutes off the bench for Leinster. Bok flyhalf Handre Pollard scored a try and kicked two conversions and a penalty for the Tigers, who had Jasper Wiese and Hanro Liebenberg in their back row.
– Northampton Saints scored two second-half tries to beat Munster 24-14 and set up a home quarter-final against the Vodacom Bulls. Former Bulls centre Burger Odendaal started for Northampton, who had No 8 Juarno Augustus on the bench.
– Five-time champions Toulouse eased past French rivals Racing 92 in a 31-7 victory, earning a home quarter-final against Exeter Chiefs. Siya Kolisi made his return from a hand injury for Racing, but limped off after just 20 minutes. Flyhalf Tristan Tedder and tighthead prop Trevor Nyakane also started for Racing.
Challenge Cup
– Gloucester battled to a 30-25 win over French side Castres. Ruan Ackermann started for Gloucester, who face Ospreys in the quarter-finals.
– Ospreys continued to fly the flag for Wales in the Challenge Cup, beating Sale Sharks 20-15 to reach the quarter-final stage. Tighthead prop Tom Botha started for Ospreys. Sale Sharks had flyhalf Robert du Preez, lock Hyron Andrews and No 8 Jean-Luc du Preez in their starting lineup.
– Sean Everitt‘s Edinburgh will return to Durban to face the Sharks in the quarter-finals, after beating Bayonne 33-15. Duhan van der Merwe rounded off the scoring for Edinburgh, who had props Luan de Bruin and WP Nel and fullback Wes Goosen in starting lineup.
– Ulster Rugby overcame a 14-point deficit to earn a place in the Challenge Cup quarter-final stage with a 40-17 victory over Montpellier. Steven Kitshoff started for Ulster, who face Clermont in the quarter-finals. Paul Willemse started and scored a try for Montpellier, who fielded a largely second-string side without Springbok trio Cobus Reinach, Jan Serfontein and Nico Janse van Rensburg.
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
