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
An on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
24 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
24 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
24 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
24 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
11 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to comments