Springboks Dillyn Leyds and Raymond Rhule were superlative in La Rochelle's shock victory over Leinster to claim the European Champions Cup title.
Rhule scored the opening try of the match after a great offload by Leyds. The winger stepped off his left foot and showed a great turn of pace to sprint 20m to the line.
Two tries in the closing 16 minutes, including the matchwinner from winger Artur Retiere, earned La Rochelle an unlikely 24-21 win over the Irish giants. Leyds - who made eight carries, one clean break and a try assist - was named man of the match for Saturday's final.
Unfortunately for Springbok stalwarts Eben Etzebeth and Cheslin Kolbe, their efforts were not enough to get Toulon over the line in their Challenge Cup final against Lyon on Friday.
Etzebeth was put on his back in the 72nd minute in a well-timed tackle by Lyon's Georgian star, Davit Niniashvili. There was some revenge just seconds later, with the big lock crashing into the 19-year-old for a controversial cleanout at an ensuing ruck.
Kolbe would score a try six minutes from the final whistle, but it was too little too late from the iconic French club, who would go down 30-12.
Springbok prop Vincent Koch was named Saracens Players' Player of the Year on Friday, a fitting send-off for the World Cup winner. Koch recently signed a long-term deal with rivals Wasps for the 2022-23 season and beyond.
Over in the land of the rising sun, Franco Mostert helped Honda Heat to a narrow 24-22 win over Green Rockets on Friday, but would ultimately fail to earn promotion to Japan's League One after a dismal result in the first leg.
