Take a look back at all the Champions and Challenge Cup playoff action involving overseas-based South Africans, including Jasper Wiese’s incredible performance for the Leicester Tigers.
MORE: Wiese will be a star for Boks
Champions Cup
– Jasper Wiese turned in a man-of-the-match performance off the bench to help Leicester Tigers claim a hard-fought victory over Edinburgh. Wiese’s superb try proved a decisive moment for the hosts, while Handré Pollard contributed 11 points from the tee in testing conditions. Lock Eli Snyman was a second-half substitute for Leicester. Edinburgh’s contingent of Scotland-capped South Africans – Duhan van der Merwe and props WP Nel and Pierre Schoeman – had fairly quiet outings, while fellow front rowers Boan Venter and Luan de Bruin played off the bench.
WATCH: Jasper Wiese, force of nature
– Strong defensive performances from Duane Vermeulen and Ireland-capped hooker Rob Herring were not enough to prevent Ulster from being overpowered in a 30-15 loss to Leinster. Starting at No 8, Vermeulen missed just one of his 16 tackle attempts, while Herring completed an outstanding 26 tackles in 58 minutes and scored one of Ulster’s two tries. Springbok lock Jason Jenkins played the last 13 minutes of the match for Leinster off the bench.
– Raymond Rhule was part of a La Rochelle side that was pushed to the brink by unfavoured Gloucester in a last-gasp 29-26 victory for the defending champions. Playing at outside centre, Rhule made four carries and four tackles. Ruan Ackermann started at blindside flank for Gloucester and made 22 metres from nine carries and eight tackles before he was substituted injured after suffering from a dangerous clean out.
– Springbok trio Cobus Reinach, Jan Serfontein and Nico Janse van Rensburg were part of the 14-man Montpellier side that played to an extraordinary 33-33 extra-time draw with Exeter Chiefs, but went out on the tries-scored rule. Reinach and Serfontein both played 56 minutes, while Janse van Rensburg completed the full match, making 18 tackles in a workmanlike performance. Jannes Kirsten and Aidon Davis played for the Chiefs.
– Saracens twice came from behind to beat Ospreys 35-20 at home. Scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl started for Saracens and played 53 minutes.
Challenge Cup
– Scarlets triumphed with a battling 19-7 win over CA Brive. Centre Nico Lee and No 8 Retief Marais started for Brive.
– Rhyno Smith capped a solid performance at fullback with a try as Benetton outplayed Irish side Connacht in a 41-19 victory. Former Cheetahs and Sharks outside back Smith made 62 metres from eight carries, one clean break and picked up a try assist. Veteran scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage also started for Benetton.
– Challenge Cup holders Lyon had to come from behind twice to win 41-24 at Stade Français and earn a quarter-final berth. Springbok No 8 Arno Botha started for Lyon and made 16 tackles, winning one turnover. Tighthead prop Vincent Koch played 53 minutes for Stade, who had lock JJ van der Mescht and scrumhalf James Hall on the bench.
– Kyle Steyn scored a brace of tries as a rampant Glasgow Warriors thrashed Dragons 73-33 on Saturday. The Scotland-capped wing made four clean breaks and a total of 79 metres, assisting two further tries. Props Allan Dell and Nathan McBeth and lock JP du Preez were also in action for Glasgow.
– Cardiff reached the Challenge Cup quarter-finals in dramatic fashion as they edged Sale Sharks 28-27 in a thrilling contest. Akker van der Merwe scored a try for a Sale side featuring Jean-Luc du Preez, Dan du Preez, Robert du Preez, Jono Ross and replacement tighthead Coenie Oosthuizen.
Photo: Geoff Sellars for Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images