Kiwis carving up the north - La Rochelle hot to trot
Steve Hansen’s old French club has never won the Top 14 nor challenged in Europe.
But La Rochelle’s supporters have cause to dream after what was described as a “masterclass” in their 49-29 defeat of Wasps in round three of European Champions Cup action.
All Blacks halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow only linked up with the club last week, so was not thrust into action at the weekend, but did soak up the match in the stands.
However, the New Zealand contingent at Stade Rochelais was again to the fore. No 8 Victor Vito made 21 runs, three tackles and gave a try assist, while lock Jason Eaton and prop Uini Atonio were also in the starting XV. Hikairo Forbes and Rene Ranger were both injected off the bench. The club is now 3-0 in Pool 1, and leads the Top 14 by two points nearly halfway through the season.
Jimmy Gopperth, at second five, kicked two goals for Wasps, who have the return game against La Rochelle in Coventry this weekend.
Elsewhere, Ulster duo Charlie Piutau and Sean Reidy enjoyed a fine 17-5 away win at Harlequins, who fielded Alofa Alofa and Mat Luamanu.
Fullback Jayden Hayward scored a try for Treviso in the 28-33 loss to Scarlets. Bay of Plenty wing Monty Ioane wore the No 11 jersey for the Italians, while Whetu Douglas entered off the bench. Johnny McNicholl and Hadleigh Parkes turned out for Scarlets.
Tries to Ma’a Nonu and Alby Mathewson helped Toulon to a 24-20 victory over Todd Blackadder’s Bath, whose Kiwis were Paul Grant, Kahn Fotuali’i and Jack Wilson.
Maama Vaipulu scored the match-winning try, in the 77th minute, for Castres to edge Racing-Metro 16-13, for whom Joe Rokocoko and Ben Tameifuna started. David Smith was, as ever, on the left wing for Castres.
A try to centre Kieron Fonotia helped his Ospreys to beat Northampton 43-32. Dylan Hartley and wing Ahsee Tuala scored tries for Saints. Piers Francis and Michael Paterson also featured.
A try to hooker Rhys Marshall helped see Munster to a 33-10 win over Leicester, whose numbers included Telusa Veainu, Mike FitzGerald, Valentino Mapapalangi and Logovi’i Mulipola.
In the battle of the Kiwi coaches, Vern Cotter’s Montpellier won a fine 29-22 result at Dave Rennie’s Glasgow. Aaron Cruden and Nemani Nadolo were at Nos 10 and 11 respectively for the French club, while Samuela Vunisa and Siua Halanukonuka featured for the Warriors.
Saracens versus Clermont was postponed due to adverse weather, while Leinster, featuring captain Isa Nacewa, who kicked two goals, Jamison Gibson-Park and Michael Bent, beat Thomas Waldrom’s Exeter 18-8.
In the European Challenge Cup, Pau rested several of its Kiwis, but Benson Stanley, Peter Saili and Daniel Ramsay all got the job done, 40-21, over Agen.
Paul Williams, at 34, in the twilight of his long career, was at No 12 as Stade Francais beat Russian club Krasny Yar 39-24. Ziggy Fisi’ihoi scored a try off the bench for the Parisians, while Tony Ensor also came off the pine.
There were, unusually, no New Zealanders involved in the Dragons’ 15-0 victory over Enisei.
Hika Elliot’s try was insufficient as Oyonnax fell 35-14 to Worcester. Denny Solomona’s Sale blanked Cardiff Blues 24-0. Rey Lee-Lo, Gareth Anscombe and Nick Williams played for the Blues.
Gloucester’s Kiwi quartet of John Afoa, Josh Hohneck, Jeremy Thrush and Willi Heinz helped the West Country club to a 33-26 win at Zebre.
Phil Burleigh, newly capped by Scotland, scored a brace for Edinburgh in its 50-20 win over London Irish. Mike Coman scored a try for the Exiles, while former Auckland lock William Lloyd was in the second-row.
Connacht have fielded an Ahki and an Aki in the midfield for the first time. Pita Ahki and Bundee Aki combined, with Tom McCartney off the bench, to help the Irish province to a 38-31 victory at Brive.
Toulouse beat Lyon 30-23 in a dreary Thursday night clash, Carl Axtens, Jarrod Poi and Joe Tekori emerging the victors over Josh Bekhuis, Mike Harris, making his first start of the season, and Rudi Wulf.
Newcastle dispatched Bordeaux-Begles 52-24. The latter had Fa’asiu Fuatai on the wing, with bench support from former Waikato hooker Ole Avei and Ben Volavola, who kicked a goal.
Comments on RugbyPass
“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.
9 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.
9 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 commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments