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There is to be no fairytale ending to the 2018-19 season for the Kiwi trio of Ma’a Nonu, Malakai Fekitoa and Alby Mathewson at Toulon.
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Toulon, French Top 14 champions in 2014 and three-time former European champions (2013-15) drew 19-all with Lyon in the Top 14 playoffs at Stade Mayol, but will not progress to the semifinal on the first try rule. The visitors scored the opening try of the clash, which went to extra time.
Nonu, who turns 36 today, but is keen to extend his career, was yellow carded but was otherwise in compelling attacking form, setting up what should have been a try to former England wing Chris Ashton, who duffed the simple regather from a grubber.
Fekitoa, who has scored seven tries since his November debut, and Mathewson, both featured from the bench.
For Lyon, which has not won the top flight championship since 1933, Mike Harris slotted three key goals, while fullback Toby Arnold scored a try. Rudi Wulf (13) and Taiasina Tuifua (8) also turned out for Le LOU. Lyon’s reward is a semifinal trip to Vern Cotter’s Montpellier, for whom Aaron Cruden will run the cutter.
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In the other semifinal, Castres will travel to Paris to meet Racing-Metro after the south-west club tipped over bigger neighbours Toulouse 23-11. Maama Vaipulu and David Smith started for the victors, while Alex Tulou and Paea Fa’anunu added impact off the bench.
Toulouse, who will welcome Jerome Kaino in August, fielded Charlie Faumuina and Joe Tekori.
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The Guinness PRO14 final will pit defending champs Scarlets against newly crowned European champs Leinster in Dublin.
Wayne Pivac’s charges defeated Dave Rennie’s Glasgow Warriors 28-13 in the semis, with Johnny McNicholl and Hadleigh Parkes starting in the backline. Callum Gibbins and Siua Halanukonuka appeared for Glasgow.
Captain Isa Nacewa, at second five, and James Lowe, played for Leinster in the tight 16-15 win over Rhys Marshall’s Munster.
In the Champions Cup playoff, Sean Reidy’s Ulster beat Ma’afu Fia’s Ospreys 35-17, but there was no happy ending to Charlie Piutau’s Ulster career. The former All Blacks wing, about to take up a lucrative deal with Bristol in the 2018-19 Aviva Premiership, was a very late withdrawal from the Ulster line-up.
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England’s Aviva Premiership final will, as expected see defending champs Exeter face down Saracens. Thomas Waldrom’s Chiefs battered Newcastle 36-5 in the first semifinal. The Falcons fielded Sinoti Sinoti, Nili Latu and Tane Takalua.
Sean Maitland’s Sarries put the cleaners through Wasps to the tune of 57-33. Jimmy Gopperth kicked two goals for Wasps, while Nathan Hughes was at No 8.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
The 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.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 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.
10 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 commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments