Sweil Hero for Harlequins

Ex SupersportFly-half Tim Swiel was Harlequins' hero during their hard-fought 15-7 victory over Newcastle Falcons at the weekend. The former Sharks and Western Province U21 pivot, who made his first Premiership start as former All Blacks number 10 Nick Evans' replacement, scored all his side's points via five penalties. The result leaves Harlequins in eighth place on the table with 23 points, seven adrift of fourth placed Saracens who currently occupy the final play-off spot. 
Sarries, who were captained by veteran number eight Ernst Joubert, were in a rampant mood and scored 11 tries in their 78-7 victory over bottom-placed London Welsh at Allianz Park. Apart from Joubert, South African hooker Brett Sharman - who scored one of the tries - and former former Springbok scrum-half Neil De Kock were also in the starting line-up while prop Petrus du Plessis and Sharks-bound lock Mouritz Botha were amongst the replacements. Elsewhere, ex Springbok loose forward Ashley Johnson was part of the Wasps' run-on side who made a superb start to life at their new home venue - the Ricoh Arena in Coventry - with a 48-16 triumph over London Irish. And at Kingsholm, Bok flanker Francois Louw was in Bath's starting XV as they secured a 39-16 victory over Gloucester. The win keeps them in second position, just two points behind pacesetters Northampton. In the Pro12, ex-Bulls and Springbok full-back Zane Kirchner played on the right wing, and scored a try, as Leinster secured a 21-11 win over Connacht - who had former Stormers lock Quinn Roux and right wing Danie Poolman in their starting line-up. 
Meanwhile, former Golden Lions and EP Kings lock Johan Snyman was yellow carded in the Scarlets' 21-9 defeat to the Cardiff Blues and ex Cheetahs prop WP Nel came off the bench to score a try for Edinburgh in their 48-0 thrashing of Treviso at Murrayfield. Another former Kings lock, Rynier Bernardo, helped the Ospreys to a 31-20 win over Ulster, who had Springbok scrum-half Ruan Pienaar, former Stormers loose forward Robbie Diack and ex Lions lock Franco van der Merwe in their run-on side. There was also success for ex Griquas and Cheetahs lock Rynard "Ligtoring" Landman, who captained the Dragons to a 25-11 win over Zebre who had his former Cheetahs team-mate, full-back Hennie Daniller in their starting line-up. In France, the Top 14 saw Stade Français overcome Grenoble 43-30. 
Meyer Bosman, Morné Steyn, Gerhard Mostert and Jono Ross were all amongst Stade's reserves, with Steyn adding a conversion, while Gio Aplon and Hendrik Roodt started at full-back and lock for Grenoble. Former Bulls and Springbok centre Wynand Olivier crossed the whitewash as Montpellier ended a seven match losing streak with a 23-20 win over Toulouse, who had Bok prop Gurthro Steenkamp and scrum-half Jano Vermaak in their matchday squad. Toulon moved to the top of the table thanks to a 30-6 win over Lyon. Scrum-half Michael Claasens and flanker Gerhard Vosloo, who was yellow carded, were in Toulon's starting XV while lock Coenie Basson and hooker Deon Fourie lined up for Lyon. In other action, France's South African-born number eight Antonie Claasen and former Stormers lock Francois van der Merwe helped Racing Metro to a 27-8 win over La Rochelle while centre Riaan Swanepoel, flanker Petrus Hauman, lock Peet Marais and prop Kevin Buys all started in Brive's 19-6 win over Oyonnax. Another South African-born French international, full-back Scott Spedding helped Bayonne to a 15-12 victory over Bordeaux-Bègles alongside prop Gert Muller while Rory Kockott kicked a penalty and conversion in bottom-placed Castres' 19-10 loss to Clermont-Auvergne.

Wonder who he missed?Then add in the guys playing in OZ and J apan!

 Beeno
Swiei is getting ahead in the big league in  Europe and will be abck with the Sharks in January.   He is still very young and is now beginning to show the potential identified in him as a youngster.   
I think he will show further growth in the Sharks  Super 15 campaign this year and is likely to be the back-up for Lambie at flyhalf.    He was treated badly by Jake White - who was cclueless about backline play and given very few opportunities to play - so lets wait and see what happens this year - especially in viewof the fact that the Sharks will be concentrating on constructive backline play next year.   Wonder how Fat Fransie is going to fit into thaat?
Kockott had a very good previous season  for Castres - but the team as a whole is very poor in performance this season and after winning the trophy the previous season - is at present bottom of the Top 14 log and in serious trouble - they may not play in the Top14 competition next year if they continue in their present vein.   .     
 

 I am always amazed how some folk write of players who are barely past 20. Sweil has magic and all he needs to prove is sufficient physicality.
When you add in the guys we have overseas playing in Oz and Japan the extent of th e problem we face becomes apparent. 

@beanstew

If I were Swiel, I would remain in England. As holder of a British passport, he is eligible to play for England immediately. It is obvious he has the potential for national honors and so it is just a matter of time.

It only takes a brief survey of the state of affairs, the 'quackmire' that is Springbok rugby, the small minded provincialism, politics and poor coaching to realize that ones talents may be better served abroad.

Stay in England Tim !

 What teams do you support Ovalball?

@Shezza

Lions & Springboks.

Note - in both instances I mentioned rugby teams id est immediately complicit in the conduct of a sporting code called rugby. I do not support politicians that meddle in sport, nor do I support farcical provincial bias (so severe the perpetrator themselves is oblivious of their own bias) and finally I do not support incompetence, complacency or favoritism influencing young players careers that are only guilty of giving their absolute best. This to me is the most despicable of all those things.

Basically I support the conduct of a sport with the best possible conductors without external influence or unsubstantiated nuance.

So before you ask how I can recommend Swiel stays in England while supporting the Springboks - read the above again. In fact, read a few of the threads on this forum.

 Balz, alot you say is true, but there will always be more prestige in a Bok jersey than a Pom one. :-)

Back to Swiel, it never ends. The incredible thing to me is Pollard has had very luke warm support from fans, in spite ofthe fact that he is the same age as Swiel, and far from failing in the S15 he has guided us to our first win over the ABs in many a year.
So why is Pollard not hyped, but Swiel, Lambie and Goosen are. Could it be he plays for the Bools?  

 Think that is the case Mozart, Goosen's hype is justified but Lambie has shown very little but still makes a good 3rd choice flyhalf. Pollard and Goosen are the flyhalves for SA. I'm going to wait until after next seasons Super 15 to cast a judgement on Swiel.

Hell Boshoff who basically lost the CC gets more fan enthusiasm than Pollard. Odd. For the rest Goosen has the most weapons, boot and pace, but is he tough enough. I like the fullback option.  Lambie has huge support from Natal. Apparently that trumps his history of fading after bright starts. And Swiel wasn't ready in 2014. Will 2015 be different? I fear not.  

 Moz, obviously  Pollard is the man for the futur BUT he has proven already that he can hold his own against the best already. Most important thing though is that his nay sayers are fewer than any of his opposition's. The lad is good, but thre is a lot of room for improvement. 

 I am surprised at what you are saying Moz, surely everyone rates Pollard as our best bet? Goosen has bags oftalent and he is maturing nicely in France. Willl come back a great player.