Jean, Munster gets clubbed

Posted by Boertjie - 06/10/09 at 12:10 am under Other Tournaments

Jean de Villiers’s first taste of a Magners League derby for Munster against arch-rivals Leinster seems to have been a particularly unpalatable one.

Rob Houwing, Sport24

The Springbok and former Stormers/WP centre, in his second run-on for the Irish club, was part of a Munster side “demolished in practically every facet”, if Monday’s Irish Times is to be believed, as they crashed 30-0 in Dublin.

Leinster, the European champions, scored three tries in the romp against the Magners League title-holders.

To compound De Villiers’s misery, rival midfielder Brian O’Driscoll, the Ireland and Lions legend, took full advantage of his team’s front-foot momentum – Munster were not helped by the red card given early in the second half to front-ranker John Hayes.

The newspaper’s Gerry Thornley reported: “When Jean de Villiers has bad dreams, one ventures that O’Driscoll will now feature in them.

“The Springbok won’t enjoy watching the video of the Irish captain making him look as if he was jogging on the spot as he accelerated around him; nor will (fullback) Keith Earls as O’Driscoll eluded his despairing tackle for the 45th-minute killer try.”

Munster and De Villiers will attempt to redeem themselves in the first round of the Heineken Cup this weekend, where they travel to Northampton – De Villiers will probably come up against former Stormers colleague Brian Mujati, the Bok tighthead prop.

Mujati also had a fairly unsuccessful weekend; the Saints were beaten 20-15 by Wasps in the Guinness Premiership and he was subbed in the 51st minute for veteran Argentinean international Gonzalez Bonorino.

Gary Botha says goodbye

But there was both victory (13-11) and a standing ovation for Gary Botha, the Bok hooker, as he bade farewell to the Harlequins faithful against the Michael Claassens-led Bath team.

Botha, who turns 28 in a few days, has been released early from his Quins contract to return to the Blue Bulls as his family battled to settle in northern climes.

He was quoted by The Times as saying: “We have strong leaders, strong characters at Harlequins, good structures in place and that makes it difficult to leave.”

Meanwhile, the Brendan Venter-masterminded Saracens won a hard-fought encounter 22-15 at Newcastle to make it five wins out of five and ensure sole leadership of the Premiership – they are the only unbeaten outfit.

Seven Saffas for Sarries

Sarries started the match with no fewer than seven South African-born players in the XV: they were led by flank Wikus van Heerden in the absence of Steve Borthwick through injury and also fielded Brad Barritt (attracting the England selectors’ interest), Derick Hougaard, Neil de Kock, Schalk Brits, Justin Melck and Ernst Joubert.

The Guardian reported that “the excellent tactical kicking of half-backs De Kock and Hougaard helped (Saracens) gain a stranglehold on field position. Centre Barritt and No 8 Joubert made several telling carries”.

Gcobani Bobo, the Bok and former Stormers utility back, was introduced in the 62nd minute off the bench at right wing for Newcastle.

The newspaper said Edward Griffiths, the Saracens CEO who once held that position with SA Rugby, “chose to walk around the ground offering personal thanks to the few dozen supporters who had made the long trip north, having criticized the club’s supporters last week for booing the team’s kick-heavy tactics against Gloucester”.