South African rugby players had a significant influence on the weekend’s action in the Heineken Cup.
Hendrik Cronjé
Ricky Januarie enjoyed a dream debut for the Ospreys, with the Springbok scrumhalf scoring a try in his team’s 62-7 thumping of Viadana in the Stadio Il Giglio. Former Griquas captain Gareth Krause is playing for Viadana these days.
Due to visa problems, Januarie could only join up with his team-mates a day before the game.
In Limerick, Springbok prop Wian du Preez, playing for Munster, passed his scrum test against Perpignan’s French tighthead prop Nicolas Mas. Du Preez had the upper hand in the scrums and even played well in the loose.
Springbok centre Jean de Villiers also looked hungry in the same game when he got an opportunity as a substitute in the 74th minute in Munster’s 24-23 win.
Former Free State Cheetahs backline player Philip Burger scored the best try of the game for Perpignan in the 70th minute. Burger, having fielded a high kick, ran through from his own 22-metre line without a Munster player being able to touch him.
Tries by two South Africans – flank Brian Vermaak and flyhalf Marius Goosen – were not enough to help Treviso beat Northampton Saints at Franklins Gardens. Prop Brian Mujati and lock Juandré Kruger both play for the Saints.
Saints won 30-18, with former Griquas scrumhalf Tobie Botes also succeeding with a conversion for the losers.
Ulster were without injured Bok prop BJ Botha against Stade Francais at Ravenhill, but still won.
Former Free State scrumhalf Falie Oelschig featured as a substitute flyhalf for Stade Francais and scored three points in their 13-23 defeat.
CJ van der Linde is busy regaining his best form and the Bok prop shone for Leinster in their 32-7 win over the Scarlets in Llanelli.
Bok hooker Danie Coetzee picked up a yellow card in London Irish’s 36-3 win over Brive.
Brive are captained by a South African in No 8 Antonie Claassen, with former Cheetahs centre Ronnie Cooke and Pat Barnard (prop) the other well-known faces in their side.
On Sunday, former Stormers hooker Pieter Dixon scored Bath’s first try against Edinburgh.
Luke Watson (No 
and Michael Claassens (scrumhalf) also played well in Bath’s 16-9 win.
Watson was the man of the match. His positional play was good and he also impressed at the breakdowns.
December 14th, 2009 at 11:47 am
Ricky’s play was streets ahead of anyone on the pitch. He looked really good and still IMO still the 2nd best SH in SA.
December 14th, 2009 at 11:52 am
Yip we do have the second stringers of note
They are just not playing in SA!
December 14th, 2009 at 11:53 am
Falie Oelschig!!!
I really thought he is one of the better players in the tournament, and was surprise to see him at Flyhalf.
December 14th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Reply to WiLLem @ 11:52 am: Ricky was send their to get into shape so he is coming back for S14.
December 14th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Reply to Bunny @ 11:53 am:
He is a very good 10 for stade – as a player he really blossomed in France
December 14th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Reply to JT @ 11:55 am: I think we need to get him back in SA
December 14th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Other players in NH that have really developed and could be an aset to SA:
Joe van Niekerk – captains Toulon and is one of the best polayers in France!
Michael Claasens – Bath are useless without him
Frans Steyn – getting back his form at 12 for Racing metro!
Sowerby for Toulouse – Having another great season!
And of course , van heerden, Joubert, Britz etc at Saracens!
Dissapointments:
Jean for Munster
CJ for Leinster – not putting in the work according to the fans.
Bobo for Newcastle – not really getting into it yet!
December 14th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Reply to JT @ 12:05 pm: Why the hell are the players playing so good in Europe, is are couching staff so kak in SA, or is this a kak question?????
December 14th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
So what we are saying-
our coaches are k@k?
December 14th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
et tu wortelman….
December 14th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
jean, CJ played better in SA than he is in EU,
Coaching IMO is not the main factor – it is often the proffesional enviroment the players are in that either pushes them to excel or drops their performance. The enviroment did Percy the world of good but did nothing for others like de Wet Barry who lost form and came back a shadow of what he was.
December 14th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Reply to JT @ 12:22 pm: I think we need to give Jean a few months to get into grips with the game up their, he will be one of their greats as he was for the WP,Stormers and Boks.
December 14th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Reply to Jacques(Bunny) @ 12:24 pm:
No guarantee IMO – Mafi is playing the best rugby I have seen him play and Jean won’t dislodge him easily. Jean may have been a big fish in Cape Town but what is his status in Ireland and how will he deal with it?
Guys like Sephaka who went to France and got his arse handed to him came back a zero! It already looks like Ricky is taking well to the enviroment at the Ospreys and may well come back an improved player. I hope the same happen to Mujati for example.
December 14th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Reply to JT @ 12:28 pm:
PS: Wian du Preez did well for Munster on his debut! Looks like the props in NH are all doing their bit:
CJ, BJ, Wian, Human, Pat Barnard, Mujati – who did I miss?
December 14th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
I don’t care where No.46
shines, as long as it’s
not over here.
December 14th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 12:34 pm:
December 14th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 12:34 pm:
IMO he did not really shine – still his same old “play to the camera” style. Not a team player!
December 14th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Reply to JT @ 12:39 pm:
Ja, hy hoort in die draadtrek-span -
elke man vir homself.
December 14th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Reply to Jacques(Bunny) @ 12:37 pm:
HowZit Jacques
Bly om te ontmoet!
December 14th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Reply to WiLLem @ 1:07 pm:
I thought it was Naas?
But Jacques is also ok 
December 14th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Reply to JT @ 1:13 pm:
Maybe he is a closetWP nAAs suPPortah!
December 14th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Reply to WiLLem @ 1:07 pm: Ja gedink dit is beter om as jy wil standpunte se jou regte naam te gebruik eerder om jou agter ‘n skuilnaam te vermom.
December 14th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Reply to JT @ 1:13 pm: Jy sal nie glo hoe ek Naas gevloek het as kind nie,
My ou gesegde was:” Ek wens daai Foken bal verander in ‘n baksteen jy jy skop jou foken voet af.”
Maar ja was nog jonk en jukerig toe.
Reply to WiLLem @ 1:25 pm: Sekerlik nie ‘n closet case nie. Volbloed Blou en Wit.
December 14th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Glad RJ is finding form.
December 14th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Reply to Duiwel @ 8:40 pm: Scary shit. Miracles still happen!!
December 14th, 2009 at 11:46 pm
Reply to Duiwel @ 8:40 pm:
hope he does – WP/Stormers need a class 9 on form!
December 14th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
Whats the expression,
talent is temporary
class is permanent.
December 14th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Howzit duiwel! You been skiing/boarding? How the snow look on your side?