Top Rankings of Successful South African Plays in the 2023-24 European Champions Cup
Stirring Up Rugby Finishes Quintin van Jaarsveld, renowned rugby analyst, reminisces about the electrifying touchdowns scored by South African teams during the European Champions Cup, and selects the 10 most memorable ones.
The Bulls and the Stormers couldn't make it to the European pot of gold, but they left their marks in the top-tier European competition. After reaching the knockout stages for the second time, both teams faced heartbreaking defeats—the Bulls at the hands of the Northampton Saints, and the Stormers against two-time defending champions La Rochelle.
With a mix of skill, power, and finesse, these teams produced incredible moments during their journeys, and Quintin van Jaarsveld brings you the top 10 South African tries from the tournament:
10: Opportunistic MagicPaul de Wet set off a stunning opportunistic try in the Stormers' tournament opener against the Leicester Tigers, with an aerial stab and an offload off the ground to Courtnall Skosan for the score.
9: Dayimani's DanceHacjivah Dayimani was the Man of the Match in the Stormers' 31-24 home win over the Sale Sharks. A flat pass from Manie Libbok sent Adre Smith into a hole, and a step-twirl by Dayimani capped off the try.
8: Gans' BeautyStedman Gans produced a beautifully timed pass that sent Willie le Roux into space against Bordeaux, leading to a fantastic team try.
7: Zas' Double TroubleStormers winger Lionel Zas scored twice against the Sale Sharks—the first happened when he broke the line and teamed up with Dayimani for the score.
6: Individual GeniusMpilo Gumede displayed his power and finesse in the Bulls' game against Lyon, setting up Sergeal Petersen with a bump-off and an unbelievable offload.
5: Bok to BokKurt-Lee Arendse electrified Saracens with his hot-stepping and speed, setting up Canan Moodie with a beautiful pass for the try.
4: Bear DownStrong runs from Sebastian de Klerk and Gumede led to a great offload from Jan-Hendrik Wessels, putting replacement prop Khutha Mchunu in for his first try for the franchise against the Bristol Bears.
3: Off the HookSubtlety from Embrose Papier and good offloads by Kriel and Elrigh Louw saw le Roux touch down under the posts against Bordeaux.
2: La Rochelle UnlockedThe Stormers outsmarted La Rochelle in spectacular fashion in their Round of 16 fixture, with a break by Libbok and a show of class by Damian Willemse culminating in a score for Herschel Jantjies.
1: Coast to Coast CrackerOnce again, Kurt-Lee Arendse starred in the Bulls' Round of 16 clash against Lyon, masterminding a dazzling coast-to-coast try featuring exquisite handling and a quick thinking Papier dive for the score.
Quintin van Jaarsveld is a top-tier rugby analyst, having been named MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year multiple times. With over 15 years of experience under his belt, he is currently a freelance sports writer, leaving a lasting impact on the rugby community.
- Quintin van Jaarsveld, a top-tier rugby analyst, reminisces about the stunning tries from the European Championships, including Opportunistic Magic by Paul de Wet, which took place in the Stormers' tournament opener.
- In the European Leagues, the Stormers displayed their skills with Dayimani's Dance, a try scored against the Sale Sharks during a home game, where Manie Libbok passed to Adre Smith, and Hacjivah Dayimani showcased his twirling step to secure the score.
- The Bulls also showcased their football prowess during the European Champions League, with the incredible coast-to-coast Cracker try by Kurt-Lee Arendse, which featured exquisite handling and quick thinking from Embrose Papier, leading to a score against Lyon.
