La Rochelle and Lyon warmed up for their Champions Cup playoffs against the Stormers and Bulls with wins, while Tyrone Green and Andre Esterhuizen inspired Harlequins to a thrilling Premiership victory.

Premiership
– Tyrone Green produced a man of the match performance to inspire Harlequins to a 40-36 win over Johann van Graan‘s Bath. Playing at fullback, Green made 102 metres from 15 carries, beating seven defenders and making two clean breaks. Springbok centre Andre Esterhuizen scored a brace of tries, beat four defenders and made 12 tackles for Harlequins. Former Bulls lock Jacques du Plessis made a starting debut for Bath and completed 12 tackles. He was joined in Bath’s lineup by tighthead prop Thomas du Toit and No 8 Jaco Coetzee.

– Northampton Saints held on to first place in the Premiership with a bonus-point victory over Saracens. Juarno Augustus and Burger Odendaal both started for the Saints, who lead the Premiership log by four points. Scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl started for Saracens.

– Jasper Wiese played a starring role as Leicester Tigers held on for a 19-13 win against Newcastle Falcons with three men in the sin bin in a game that went 12 minutes into overtime. Wiese was excellent on attack and defence, making 14 carries and beating seven defenders, along with 11 tackles and one turnover. Handre Pollard kicked two conversions for Leicester, but missed one further conversion attempt. It was Leicester’s fourth win in five games and saw them close the gap on the top four to three points.

– Sale Sharks shrugged off an early injury blow to Ernst van Rhyn to beat Exeter Chiefs 41-5. Van Rhyn started at blindside flank, but departed in the eighth minute with a leg injury. Lock Cobus Wiese, No 8 Jean-Luc du Preez and centre Robert du Preez all started for Sale, who claimed their first win in five games.

KEO: Stormers to host a ‘spectacular Test’

Top 14
– Stade Francais fought to a 12-10 win over relegation-threatened Montpellier to continue their run at the top of the table. Cobus Reinach, Jan Serfontein and Nico Janse van Rensburg all started for Montpellier, who are four points from safety.

– La Rochelle warmed up for their Champions Cup playoff against the DHL Stormers by pummeling last-placed Oyonnax 40-21. The defending European champions were without Springbok duo Dillyn Leyds and Raymond Rhule, but did enough to climb to fourth on the table.

– Tristan Tedder returned to inspire Racing 92 to a 26-10 victory over Clermont. The playmaker scored a self-converted try and kicked three penalties for a haul of 16 points. Tighthead prop Trevor Nyakane also started for Racing, who sit third on the Top 14 log.

– Lyon, who face the Vodacom Bulls in the Champions Cup playoffs, beat Bordeaux 27-10. Former Bulls captain Arno Botha started at No 8 for Lyon, while Madosh Tambwe started for Bordeaux, but was yellow carded.

Photo: Cole Cruickshank/Gallo Images

The post Saffas Abroad: French giants warm up for playoffs appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Src: sarugbymag.co.za