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The long career of Conrad Smith is over.
The 36-year-old centre bowed out of top rugby for Pau in the French Top 14 with a 38-26 victory over Toulon. It was, alas, not enough to propel Pau, who placed eighth, into the playoffs.
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Smith first appeared for Wellington in 2003 and racked up 265 first-class games, not to mention 94 tests for the All Blacks, and two Rugby World Cup victories, before playing three seasons in France’s south-west.
Smith wore the Pau No 13 on the weekend, occasionally opposing Toulon’s Malakai Fekitoa, who was at second five and copped a yellow card. Toulon qualified fourth and will have to go through the barrages in a fortnight.
Tom Taylor kicked six goals for Pau, while Daniel Ramsay and Jamie Mackintosh also featured.
Dominiko Waqaniburotu’s Brive beat Bordeaux-Begles 22-20, but will be relegated, having propped up the table. Brive will be replaced by PRO D2 champions Perpignan for 2018-19. Luke Braid, Ben Volavola and Ed Fidow all played for the latter.
David Smith scored a try as Castres qualified sixth, scraping into the playoffs, with a hefty 54-3 win over Oyonnax, who will now play Grenoble, PRO D2 runners-up, for next season’s Top 14 berth. Maama Vaipulu, Alex Tulou and Paea Fa’anunu all turned out for Castres, while Oyonnax fielded Vili Ma’afu, Hika Elliot, Quentin MacDonald and Ben Botica, who scored the only points via a penalty goal.
La Rochelle just missed out on the playoffs, despite a swift start to the season, but they did have the satisfaction of defeating Stade Francais 31-7. Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Uini Atonio, Victor Vito and Hikairo Forbes all turned out for the victors.
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Fifth placed Lyon beat top qualifiers Montpellier 32-24, aided by tries to Toby Arnold and Taiasina Tuifua. Rudi Wulf, Toa Halafihi and Mike Harris were also on the team sheet.
Montpellier fielded Nemani Nadolo, who scored a try, Aaron Cruden, who kicked a conversion, and Jarrad Hoeata.
Racing-Metro confirmed second place with a 42-13 beating of Agen. Ole Avei and So’otala Fa’aso’o tries highlighted the effort by those with Kiwi connections, while Anthony Tuitavake, Census Johnston and Ben Tameifuna all played a part.
Racing-Metro tuned up for this weekend’s big European Champions Cup final against Leinster in Bilbao.
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Defending Top 14 champs Clermont finished a disappointing ninth but would be happy with the 36-26 defeat of third-placed Toulouse. Fritz Lee and Loni Uhila fronted for Clermont, while Joe Tekori scored a try for Toulouse. Carl Axtens and Jarrod Poi entered the fray from the bench.
In the Guinness PRO14 playoffs, Hadleigh Parkes’ Scarlets booked their semifinal berth with a 43-8 win over the Cheetahs. Wayne Pivac’s charges will now face Dave Rennie’s Glasgow for a place in the decider. A try to hooker Rhys Marshall was key to Munster’s 20-16 victory over Edinburgh, whose props were Simon Berghan and Jordan Lay.
There were some hard luck stories in the final round of the Aviva Premiership. But Todd Blackadder’s Bath will still be on cloud nine after a 63-19 rout of London Irish gave them qualification to next season’s Champions Cup. Cooper Vuna and James Wilson scored tries, while the Samoan duo of Kahn Fotuali’i and Anthony Perenise both started. Blair Cowan and Ben Franks turned out for the Exiles.
Thomas Waldrom’s Exeter easily beat Harlequins 41-17, with Alofa Alofa and Mat Luamanu both starting for Quins.
Jimmy Gopperth scored a try and kicked two goals off the Wasps bench as they defeated Newcastle 39-22, but the Falcons, with Tane Takalua and Nili Latu featuring, have made the semifinals.
Northampton, who welcome Chris Boyd as head coach in August, defeated Worcester 32-24. Ben Teo scored a try for the Warriors, while Nafi Tuitavake dotted down for the Saints. Mike Harris, Teimana Harrison and Ahsee Tuala all tasted victory to close what has been a difficult season for Midlands club.
Leicester’s 35-13 win over Sale was to no avail, as the Tigers cemented a rare finish outside the top four. Telusa Veainu, Mike FitzGerald, Brendon O’Connor, Logovi’i Mulipola and Valentino Mapapalangi all played for Leicester. The Sharks – with Bryn Evans, Halani Aulika and Johnny Leota in the ranks – were kicking themselves after seeing Champions Cup qualification slip from their grasp.
Sean Maitland scored a try as Saracens smashed Gloucester 62-12. Jason Woodward, Motu Matu’u and Jeremy Thrush, who was binned, turned out for the west country club, who now reset their sights on this weekend’s European Challenge Cup final, where they face Cardiff Blues.
There should be several New Zealanders on show in both Cup finals in Spain.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Has virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
4 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
2 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
15 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
18 Go to commentsFirst of all. This guy is very much behind the curve. All the bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning took place days ago already. Not adding anything to the topic other than more bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning. 🍼 Second of all, not one mention of the fact that South African teams can’t get home semi finals or finals. The tournament was undermined and devalued by the administrators. 🤡 Thirdly, football teams often have to juggle selections in mid week games, premier games, champions league games etc. and will from time to time prioritize certain titles over others. 🐒 And lastly FEK Neil, and anyone else for that matter, for insisting on telling teams how to manage themselves. If they make what is largely a business decision that suits them and doesn’t suit you - tough shite. 💩 It’s not rocket science as to why the Bulls did what they did. If this guy is too slow to figure it out (and is deliberately not mentioning one of the key reasons why) then he isn’t a journalist. He should join the rest of us pundit plebs in comments section. 🥴
18 Go to commentsSo the first door to knock on Rob is Parliament followed by HMRC. The Irish Revenue deliver a 40% tax relief rebate on the HIGHEST EARNING TEN YEARS of every pro Irish rugby players contract earnings at retirement. That goes a long way to both retaining their best talent and freeing up wages for marquee players. Who knows, if that had been in place in the UK, you might not have been able to poach Hoggy and Jonny Gray from Glasgow…!!!
3 Go to comments1. True, if that “free” ticket means access to all but the prized exhibit - EVIP only. SA cannot host semis, even if they’ve earned it (see Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne at… Twickenham Stoop). 2. Why no selective outrage over Lyon doing the exact same thing a week earlier? Out of all the countries France send the most “B teams”, why nobody talking about “disrespect” and “prioritising domestic leagues” and “kicking them out”? 3. Why no mention of the Sharks fielding all of their Springboks for the second rate Challenge cup QF? No commitment? 4. Why no mention of all the SA teams qualifying for respective euro knock out comps in the two seasons they’ve been in it? How many euro teams have qualified for KO’s in their history? Can’t compete? 5. Why no mention of SA teams beating French and English giants La Rochelle and Saracens? How many euro teams have done that in their history? Add no quality? The fact is that SA teams are only in their second season in europe, with no status and a fraction of the resources. Since joining the URC, SA has seen a repatriation of a number of players, and this will only grow once SA start sharing in the profits of competing in these comps, meaning bigger squads with greater depth and quality, meaning they don’t have to prioritise comps as they have to now - they don’t have imports from Pacifica and South America and everywhere else in between like “European” teams have - also less “Saffas” in Prem and T14, that’s what we want right? 'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in' True, and we have to ensure we give them the same status and resources as we give everyone else to do just that. A small compromise on scheduling will go a long way in avoiding these situations, but guess what, France and England wont compromise on scheduling because they ironically… prioritise their domestic comps, go figure!
18 Go to commentsthe success of the premiership can be summarized by : only 10 teams. It makes a huge difference with the overcrowded top 14 (let us not talk about Leinster and URC…)
1 Go to commentsGood for him. The ABs were fooling around again with converted fullbacks that had a penetration of a marshmallow. Laumape or as Aki has shown for Ireland, go forward is important in the centres. If it had been DMac - Aki- Aumua - Ioane- Telea- Jordan in France the final result would have been different.
4 Go to commentsDan Carter a apporté son professionnalisme, des méthodes de travail, un esprit qui manquaient à l’USAP. Son influence, même une fois blessé a été énorme. Et pour citer une anecdote, certains soirs il venait de lui-même à l’entraînement des jeunes pour dispenser ses conseils. On ne peut pas compter ce qu’il a apporté au club en heures de jeu sur le terrain. Est-ce que le club en a eu pour son argent ? Avec la publicité sur son nom et le titre, je suppose que oui.
1 Go to commentsThe SA sides are suffering from a bum rap here. There isn’t a side anywhere in the world that would do things differently in their shoes. They’ve been set up to fail in the EPCR comps by vested interests, with last minute intercontinental travel requirements that costs an arm and a leg to book in advance just on the possibility they might be required. And the total nonsense that denies any chance of home venues is entirely biased and absolutely unsporting. Either EPCR, the Top14 & the Gallagher Premiership get it sorted on a fair and equitable sporting basis for ALL participants or expect the ridicule to continue. Right now, these comps are a joke!
18 Go to commentsSA sides should do the right thing and leave the champions cup, they are lowering the standard with completely one sided games, not up to the right level. The greatest club tournament in the world is being banjaxed by the weak SA sides.
18 Go to commentsCouldnt agree more. SA sides need to show more committment and really have a go at the Champions Cup. Its quite possibly the most prestigious title in Europe and SA sides need to respect that prestige and serve up their best. EPCR needs to do more to ensure that sides from South Africa and sides travelling to and from SA have a better chance in this competition. The Bulls were put in a really difficult position of having to travel there and back in one week. One could argue that this is what the SA sides signed up for and that La Rochelle didnt complain or send out weakened sides despite having to travel to SA and back and play on successive weekends but surely the situation is also unfair on La Rochelle as well and so EPCR needs to think about successive gameweeks and the travel effect of the competition
18 Go to commentsI hadn’t watched much Canes this season but sat through a replay of that Chiefs game with no distractions. That pack is beastly. I really like the look of Iose. He loves the tough stuff. The first Quins clip may be the best I have even seen for a TH driving his opposite into oblivion. i need to take your word for the contribution of Walker, but Collier there with a straight back pushing up from under was a lovely thing to see. Have you fallen in love with Baxter also, Nick? I think Stuart Barnes may have written his column about him recently, naked. He positively frothed.
15 Go to comments