Kiwis carving up the north - Accurate Botica keeping Oyonnax alive
Ben Botica is leading the way for unfashionable Oyonnax as the central-eastern French club fights hard to avoid relegation in the Top 14.
The former North Harbour and Harlequins No 10, a renowned sharpshooter and rugby nomad, like his father Frano, kicked seven goals, including one well after fulltime, to guide Oyonnax to a 38-all home draw with high fliers La Rochelle.
Botica has racked up 176 points for his club this season, including a team-high four tries. Oyonnax, the French PRO D2 champions in 2013 and 2017, coming from the third tier in the late 1990s, has had several New Zealanders on its books in recent seasons.
Hooker Quentin MacDonald and No 8 Rory Grice, along with replacement Viliami Ma’afu, featured in the draw against La Rochelle, a far more competitive effort after the Atlantic coasters put 57-12 on the easterners in September. Oyonnax, however, still lies in last position by nine points. La Rochelle fielded Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Jason Eaton and Uini Atonio.
Bordeaux-Begles, with Fa’asiu Fuatai and Ben Volavola in the ranks, beat Lyon 19-10. Mike Harris, Toa Halafihi and Taiasina Tuifua turned out for France’s gastronomic capital.
Dominiko Waqaniburotu’s Brive edged Toulon 13-12. Malakai Fekitoa and Alby
Mathewson started for the latter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgOUOWkOqEw
Aaron Cruden returned from a knee injury to score a try in Montpellier’s 28-16 victory over Stade Francais. Nemani Nadolo also scored a try for the competition leaders. Tony Ensor and Brandon Nansen started for the Parisians.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMrzrwMIyZA
Wing George Tilsley scored a try for 13th-placed Agen in its 30-3 local derby win over Castres. Maama Vaipulu was red-carded for the latter, while David Smith and Alex Tulou were also in the mix.
Tom Taylor’s two penalty goals were decisive in Pau’s narrow 11-10 win over Toulouse.
Colin Slade, at fullback, Conrad Smith, Benson Stanley, Daniel Ramsay and Jamie Mackintosh all turned out for Pau, while Charlie Faumuina and Joe Tekori were in the Toulouse ranks.
Racing-Metro, with Ben Tameifuna and Joe Rokocoko, trounced struggling Clermont 58-6. Isaia Toeava started at centre, one of his old All Blacks positions, for Les Jaunards.
In the Guinness PRO14, Hadleigh Parkes’ Scarlets defeated Dragons 47-13.
Ma’afu Fia’s Ospreys scraped home 29-28 over Cardiff Blues. Gareth Anscombe kicked five goals and Nick Williams scored a try for the Blues, while Rey Lee-Lo and Willis Halaholo formed the Blues’ midfield combination.
Jamison Gibson-Park was in the No 9 jersey for Leinster in its 38-7 win over an Ulster outfit that included Charlie Piutau, Sean Reidy, and Rodney Ah You.
Siua Halanukonuka’s Glasgow beat Zebre 40-20. Former Otago club player Rory Parata was on the Zebre wing.
A brace to hooker Hame Faiva was crucial for Treviso in its 27-21 win over the Cheetahs from South Africa. Marty Banks kicked three goals, alongside Whetu Douglas, Dean Budd, Monty Ioane and Jayden Hayward.
Phil Burleigh and Jordan Lay started for Edinburgh in the 37-7 shutout of the Southern Kings. Rhys Marshall’s Munster beat Connacht 39-13, despite a try to Tom McCartney. Pita Ahki was at second-five for the vanquished.
In the Aviva Premiership, a try to wing Sinoti Sinoti helped Newcastle to a 28-20 upset over leaders Exeter, Thomas Waldrom’s team. Nili Latu and Tane Takalua entered the fray off the pine for the Falcons.
Sean Maitland’s Saracens outplayed Wasps 38-15. Bryn Evans, Halani Aulika and TJ Ioane tasted a tight 30-29 victory for Sale over Harlequins. Alofa Alofa scored a try for Quins, while Mat Luamanu was at No 8.
Two late tries, including one from a chargedown, by replacement halfback Kahn Fotuali’i helped Bath to a much-needed 44-25 victory at Worcester. Paul Grant was on the scoresheet, while the Wilsons, Jack and James, also featured. Bryce Heem and Jackson Willison started for the Warriors.
Flanker Brendon O’Connor made his comeback for Leicester in the Tigers’ 19-15 win over relegation-bound London Irish. Logovi’i Mulipola, Mike FitzGerald and Valentino Mapapalangi were alongside him in the trenches.
London Irish’s Kiwi contingent was James Marshall, Filo Paulo, Mike Coman, Blair Cowan, Ben Franks and Asaeli Tikoirotuma.
There were 12 players of New Zealand origin in Northampton’s 22-19 win over Gloucester. Ken Pisi scored a try for Saints, who also included Ahsee Tuala, Dylan Hartley, Teimana Harrison and Michael Paterson.
Prop John Afoa scored a rare try for Gloucester, as did hooker James Hanson, the 2009 North Harbour rake. Willi Heinz, James Woodward, Tom Marshall, Josh Hohneck and Motu Matu’u also appeared for the cherry and whites.
Round five of the European Champions Cup and Challenge Cup will take place this weekend.
Comments on RugbyPass
The shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to comments