Springboks shine all over the world as club rugby heats up

In the Land of the Rising Sun, hot-stepper Cheslin Kolbe wasted no time in being Big in Japan. Making his Japan League One debut for Suntory Sungoliath, Kolbe helped them to a 52-26 win over defending league champions Kubota Spears with a man-of-the-match performance.

Springbok utility knife Kwagga Smith scored a try off the bench for Blue Revs, who went down 43-30 to Brave Lupus who had All Blacks star Richie Mo'unga at flyhalf.

Jessie Kriel and Faf de Klerk ran out for the Canon Eagles, where were dumped 53-12 by Damian de Allende's Wild Knights.

On the other side of the world in France, talismanic Bok captain Siya Kolisi and prop Trevor Nyakane were in Champions Cup action against Harlequins, who featured Bok battering ram Andre Esterhuizen. The centre would earn bragging rights, as Esterhuizen scored one of the Quins' four tries as they edged the French club 28-31 in a thriller in Paris.

Across the English Channel in Leicester, Handre Pollard's Tigers played well in the final quarter to defeat a spirited Stormers outfit 36-26. The Bok flyhalf kicked 15 points and scored a crucial try to earn the man-of-the-match accolade. Teammate Jasper Wiese was his usual combative self, making several hard runs.

Finally, Bok prop Thomas du Toit continued his incredible try-scoring record with Bath, crossing the whitewash for a fifth time this season. The score helped the English club defeat Irish giants Ulster, who featured Steven Kitshoff, 37-14.

READ MORE: Bad day at the office, but Blitzboks still on track