Kiwis carving up the north: Heem brings the power
Bryce Heem seems to have found a home at Sixways.
The 28-year-old wing was something of a nomad in New Zealand rugby, appearing for Auckland, Northland and Tasman, along with the Chiefs and All Blacks Sevens in an up and down career.
#wwarriors #wwarriorstv Bryce Heem – I was playing catch-up! https://t.co/8L0qTBfChh pic.twitter.com/20c8tzFyrD
— WarriorsRugbyNews (@wrfcnews) November 18, 2017
But, now into his third season with struggling Aviva Premiership club Worcester, his hat-trick on the weekend helped the Warriors to a 30-15 win over Northampton Saints, the first of the 2017-18 season. It allowed Worcester to climb off the rung of the Premiership ladder, leapfrogging London Irish in the process.
Heem is not small for a wing, and showed his power close to the line with 32m gained from seven runs, two clean breaks and eight tackles.
Former Chiefs and Blues midfielder Jackson Willison played inside Heem at centre.
Appearing for the Saints were Ken Pisi, Michael Paterson and Teimana Harrison.
Jimmy Gopperth showed glimpses of his stellar 2016-17 form with five goals from first five in Wasps’ 40-10 victory over the Newcastle Falcons, who fielded Nili Latu and Sinoti Sinoti.
Wing Sean Maitland, unwanted by Scotland, was on the receiving end of Saracens’ 23-17 defeat at Gloucester, whose Kiwi contingent was Willi Heinz, Josh Hohneck, John Afoa and Jeremy Thrush.
Bath, coached by Todd Blackadder, stayed in the semifinal picture with a 22-18 result at London Irish. Bath’s Kiwi playing influence included former Otago No 8 Paul Grant, former Otago wing Jack Wilson, halfback Kahn Fotuali’i and prop Anthony Perenise.
Ben Franks, James Marshall and the under-rated former Hawke’s Bay loose forward Mike Coman turned out for London Irish.
Thomas Waldrom’s Exeter Chiefs, the defending champs, no less, beat Harlequins 31-17. The latter fielded wing Alofa Alofa, former Bay of Plenty halfback Jono Kitto, and No 8 Mat Luamanu.
Leicester, with Telusa Veainu and former Manawatu No 8 Valentino Mapapalangi in the starting XV, defeated Bryn Evans’ Sale Sharks 35-27.
The French Top 14 saw Toulon fall 29-40 to Racing-Metro at Stade Mayol, despite a try to Malakai Fekitoa. Ma’a Nonu was paired in the centres with Fekitoa, while former All Blacks No 9 Alby Mathewson must be smiling at going, in the space of a month, from Taupo’s Owen Delany Park to the packed, high rise stands of Mayol. The Parisians fielded Joe Rokocoko, at centre, Ben Tameifuna and So’otala Fa’aso’o.
Two tries to former Otago fullback Tony Ensor guided Stade Francais to a 39-35 victory over promoted Oyonnax, who played five players of New Zealand origin. They were former North Harbour No 10 Ben Botica, son of Frano, who kicked four goals, prop Hoani Tui, No 8 Rory Grice, hooker Quentin MacDonald and No 8 Viliami Ma’afu, who added a try.
Aaron Cruden’s Montpellier beat Toulouse 32-22, with the latter fielding Charlie Faumuina, Joe Tekori, who was shown yellow, Carl Axtens and Jarrod Poi off the bench.
Former Auckland and All Blacks Sevens flyer David Smith, still just 31, crossed for a double to see his Castres club home 31-15 over La Rochelle, who included former Wesley College prop Uini Atonio, Jason Eaton, Hikairo Forbes and Victor Vito.
Tom Taylor continues to prove his worth for Pau, slotting six goals in the 34-15 win over Brive. Former Maori All Blacks lock Daniel Ramsay scored a brace and copped a yellow card, while former All Blacks wing Frank Halai dotted down. Conrad Smith, Colin Slade and Jamie Mackintosh were also involved for the south-western club.
Isaia Toeava, Fritz Lee and Loni Uhila turned out for Clermont in the 39-18 win over Lyon, whose Kiwis included Rudi Wulf, who scored a try, Mike Harris, Toby Arnold and former Taranaki No 8 Toa Halafihi.
Bordeaux-Begles, with former Samoa Sevens flyer Ed Fidow and former NZ Under 20 rep Fa’asiu Fuatai on the wings, edged Agen, for whom former Manawatu wing George Tilsley scored.
There was no play in the Guinness PRO14, which resumes this weekend.
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments