Saffa bruiser roars into Euro cup semis

13/04/2024 06:43

Ruan Ackermann put in a tireless performance to help Gloucester overpower Ospreys and progress to the Challenge Cup semi-finals on Friday night.

The former Lions loose forward topped the list for most completed tackles (12) and made eight carries over the course of 80 minutes, while fullback Santiago Carreras kicked six penalties in a 23-13 win at Kingsholm.

Both teams struggled to get their backlines flowing, but Carreras kept his cool to kick 18 points.

Gloucester will now host a semi-final, facing either Benetton or Connacht for a place in the final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 24 May.

On Friday, both sides crossed once in an evenly-matched first half, Ospreys wing Keelan Giles going over first.

WATCH: All or nothing in the Cup – Etzebeth

The try was made by fullback Jack Walsh, who had opened up the hosts' defence with a piercing run before laying off to Giles, who finished well.

Gloucester struck back with an unconverted score from hooker Seb Blake, the pack successfully bundling over following a five-metre lineout.

Ospreys flyhalf Owen Williams converted Giles' score and added a penalty, Giles adding another from the tee with the clock in the red, but it was the home side that led at the break thanks to three Carreras penalties.

Carreras continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over in the second period as the English Premiership club's pack began to assert dominance.

Ospreys increasingly struggled to hold possession and gain territory, with mistakes allowing Carreras to kick a further three penalties and ultimately fire Gloucester into the last four of the competition.

Photo: @gloucesterrugby/Twitter

The post Saffa bruiser roars into Euro cup semis appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.