The Bulls and Lions both claimed comprehensive victories over Stade Francais and the Dragons respectively.  The Bulls scored six tries and were awarded a penalty try against Stade Francais at Loftus Versfeld, beating the team from Paris by 48-7. The Bulls needed to win by more than 22 points to gain entry to the second tier Challenge Cup competition last-16 round, after being knocked out of the top-tier Champions Cup playoffs last weekend.  

The Bulls’ tries were scored by Devon Williams, Embrose Papier, Ruan Vermaak and Elrigh Louw in the first half, and Boeta Chamberlain and Cameron Hanekom in the second half. Johan Goosen converted two tries and Chamberlain converted two.

The Lions smashed the Dragons with a 60-10 win at Ellis Park on Saturday to swoop into the round of 16 of the Challenge Cup.  The hosts scored nine tries in an almost perfect performance with captain Francke Horn and flanker Ruan Venter each scoring two tries.

Horn, Sam Francis, Venter and Tapiwa Mafura all scored tries in the first half, with Francis converting them all. Horn and Venter scored in the second half as well, joined by Gianni Lombard, Jaco Visagie and Manuel Rass, with Lombard converting two of the tries.

In Paris, Racing 92 were too strong for the Stormers, getting a bonus point 33-21 win over the men from Cape Town. The Stormers will now have to wait on the Sale versus  Toulon clash on Sunday to see if they’ll qualify for the Challenge Cup. Vinaya Habosi and Max Bring both scored a brace of tries for Racing, with substitute Boris Palu also getting in on the action. Nolan le Garrec converted three of the tries. For the Stormers, Andre-Hugo Venter, Marcel Theunissen and Herschel Jantjies all scored tries, with Jurie Matthee converting two.

The Toyota Cheetahs lost by 68-21 against Lyon in the EPCR Challenge Cup, with the hosts scoring 10 tries to the visitors’ three.

The Sharks will play Union Bordeaux-Begles on Sunday to try and secure a place in the playoffs of the Champions Cup.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger