Here you have the latest rugby news for Sunday 10th December.

White apologizes for insulting Pharrell

Bulls manager Jake White has criticized his fans and apologized for the obnoxious booing of Saracens captain Owen Farrell during Saturday’s European Cup match.

Farrell was booed when he scored shots on goal in his first match since announcing his retirement from international rugby, following insults and criticism from fans. Get the latest Welsh rugby news by signing up to our newsletter here.

The club’s coach Mark McCall refused to comment on the treatment of Farrell, but former Springbok coach White had plenty to say, suggesting that people had “noticed the hate towards Owen Farrell”. The home team won 27-16

“I apologize for all the booing of Owen Farrell,” he said. “This is not who we are [the Bulls] It is.

“I don’t understand all the negativity. He is an incredible player. What he achieved in England is phenomenal. I’m disappointed [about the booing].

“I wanted people to enjoy watching him play. You compare it to watching Tiger Woods play golf. [Michael] Jordan plays basketball.

“I have to apologize because this [booing] We are not really who we are. “Let’s look into this.”

Pollard plays for Leicester.

Handre Pollard scored 20 points against his native South Africa as Leicester Tigers won 35-26 over a depleted Stormers in their first Investec Champions Cup game of the season.

Pollard was involved in the decisive try at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, where Tongan center Solomone Kata picked up two points in a poor performance for Leicester.

They had to make up for a 17-10 halftime deficit against a Stormers team that left most of its big names at home ahead of next week’s home game against champions La Rochelle.

The only members of the Springboks’ World Cup-winning team were represented in Leicester colors and one of them, Pollard, scored the first points of the game from a six-minute penalty.

Juri Matty made his midfield debut for the Stormers and got his first look at the posts to equalize after Connor Evans was hit in the air as he came off the line.

Parity lasted just a few minutes when Jasper Wiese, another world champion in the Tigers’ ranks, broke through a five-metre scrum before slotting past Kata to score the first try.

Nama Haba’s strong play from an open flank generated heavy pressure from the visitors and this led to number eight, Keke Morabe, breaking the attacking formation and emerging virtually unscathed.

Matty’s conversion made it 10-10 again after half an hour and it was the Stormers who took the lead at half-time.

It came after Paul de Wet performed superbly with his own shot forward after Wiese lost control in a scrum, before a pass appeared for former Northampton winger Courtnell Skosan to finish and Matty converted again .

Pollard quickly reduced the deficit to four points with a penalty two minutes into the second half and Leicester soon took the lead.

The ball was crossed from the left, where Hanro Liebenberg passed to Ollie Hassell-Collins, who picked out his man before cutting inside for Kata to score his second goal and Pollard to add the extras.

However, the match was soon level at 20-20 again when Matty scored a 22-metre drop goal before he and Pollard exchanged penalties in a thrilling penalty shootout.

The Stormers then lost Lee-Marvin Mazibuko to a dangerous tackle on Wiese and the Tigers quickly took advantage when Pollard came off Harry Wells’ pass.

A last-gasp Matty penalty kept the visitors in touch with the home team in the closing stages, but Leicester finally snatched victory when Josh Bassett headed home the final corner.

Stade Français dismantling for sale

Sale produced an excellent second half performance to kick off their Champions Cup campaign with a 28-5 victory over Stade Francais at the AJ Bell Stadium.

The Sharks won a brutal first period 6-5, with two George Ford penalties overshadowing a well-worked try from Stade captain Jeremy Ward.

England defender Ford added a third from the penalty spot before Sale extended their lead by finding space for winger Tom O’Flaherty to touch down.

Sale’s ability was demonstrated in the final quarter when Raffy Quirke released Jonny Hill into the corner and Tom Curtis added the extra.

Man of the match, Sam Dugdale, completed the victory with six minutes remaining and Curtis again converted.

Sale conceded a fourth point and a bonus point in the final minutes before the visit of the four-time Leinster champions next weekend.