Springboks abroad

Springbok prop Thomas du Toit enjoyed his Premiership Rugby debut on Saturday with a victory for Bath.

The former Sharks front-rower celebrated with a second-half try to help his new club Bath to a 25-16 win over Saracens.

Staying with the Premiership, former Springbok flyhalf Robert du Preez was key in the Sale Sharks' 24-17 away win over the Leicester Tigers.

Du Preez bagged 14 points thanks to a try, penalty and three conversions in the match. His brother Dan du Preez also contributed, crashing over the whitewash for a try in the 31st minute after coming off the bench. At the other end of the park, former U20 Springbok captain scored a try for the Tigers in the first half.

Former South Africa U20 training squad player Benhard Janse van Rensburg played the full 80 minutes for Bristol in their 33-27 loss at the hands of Northampton Saints.

SA Schools forward Jacques Vermeulen was part of the Exeter team that went down 22-14 at home to Harlequins.

Across the English Channel in the Top 14, Bok flyer Dillyn Leyds kicked five points for French giants La Rochelle as they suffered a narrow 11-10 loss to Clermont.

Montpellier - who had the services of Springbok flank Nico Janse van Rensburg - lost to Stade Francias 24-9. The Parisians featured former Sharks' duo Jeremy Ward and behemoth JJ van der Mescht in their ranks.