Kiwis in Europe - Lowe hits high notes for Leinster
Total Kiwis: 89
James Lowe’s strong form continues following a two-try effort for Leinster in its 20-13 Guinness PRO14 win over Scarlets over the weekend.
The 25-year-old former Chiefs and Makos wing, who debuted in December, ran in a double and set up one other in his sixth outing for the Irish province. Furthermore, he ran 15 times for 112m.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxp1mvi3FmQ
Michael Bent started at tighthead prop for Leinster, while Johnny McNicholl scored a try for Scarlets, who slip to second, behind Leinster, on the Conference B table.
Zebre, with former Chiefs and Waikato lock James Tucker in the engine room, engineered a 19-11 upset at Connacht, whose ranks included Naulia Dawai, Tom McCartney and Pita Ahki.
Nick Williams, Taufa’ao Filise and Rey Lee-Lo were in the winners’ circle as the Cardiff Blues edged Munster 25-18. Rhys Marshall was at hooker for the latter, while Tyler Bleyendaal made his comeback off the bench, kicking a penalty goal.
Treviso scored a fifth straight win, 18-15, over the Dragons. Monty Ioane scored a try and Marty Banks slotted two goals. Hame Faiva and Whetu Douglas were also involved.
Ma’afu Fia and Kieron Fonotia enjoyed a 26-12 win for Ospreys over the Southern Kings. Prop Siua Halanukonuka scored a try for Glasgow in the Warriors’ 37-23 victory over the Cheetahs. John Hardie and Jordan Lay of Edinburgh had a tight 17-16 win over Rodney Ah You’s Ulster.
In the French Top 14, Mike Harris may be the forgotten Wallaby, but the Kiwi-born, former North Harbour and NZ Under 20s pivot was among the points in Lyon’s 36-10 defeat of Clermont. He scored a try and kicked three goals, while Toby Arnold ran in a try on the wing. Rudi Wulf and Taiasina Tuifua were among their teammates. Fritz Lee and Luke McAlister, at second five, appeared for Clermont.
David Smith and Alex Tulou and their Castres’ teammates had a narrow 7-6 win at Bordeaux-Begles, for whom Simon Hickey returned to the starting XV, though he did not kick goals. Fa’asiu Fuatai was on the wing.
Dan Carter slotted two conversions in Racing-Metro’s 19-12 win over La Rochelle. Alongside him were the likes of Anthony Tuitavake, Ben Tameifuna, Ole Avei and Joe Rokocoko. La Rochelle had Hikairo Forbes, Jason Eaton, Uini Atonio and Tawera Kerr-Barlow in their ranks.
https://youtu.be/JatSpQQdSFA?t=18
Joe Tekori scored a try for Toulouse, which won 52-25 in its local derby against Agen. Charlie Faumuina and Carl Axtens joined him in the pack. Tom Murday scored a try for Agen, who had George Tilsley on the wing.
Tom Taylor kicked four goals for Pau, just back from the Brisbane Global Tens, in its 21-16 win at Brive. Colin Slade (15), Frank Halai, Jamie Mackintosh and Daniel Ramsay all saw action.
Malakai Fekitoa and Alby Mathewson played for Toulon in its 43-5 defeat of Stade Francais. Jarrad Hoeata’s Montpellier beat last-placed Oyonnax 43-30. Ben Botica kicked six goals for the eastern French club, while Quentin MacDonald and Hoani Tui were in the pack. Hika Elliot packed down at blindside flanker, having last played there in 2014 for Poverty Bay in the Heartland Championship on his way back from a neck injury.
In the Aviva Premiership, Thomas Waldrom, freshly signed by the Wellington Lions for the 2018 Mitre 10 Cup, was on the receiving end of Exeter’s 13-7 reverse to Wasps, for whom Jimmy Gopperth kicked two goals.
Saracens defeated Sale Sharks, who included Halani Aulika and Denny Solomona, 13-3.
Worcester’s resurgence, with Bryce Heem and Jackson Willison in jerseys 13 and 14, continues with a 25-15 victory over Gloucester, who fielded Motu Matu’u, John Afoa, Tom Marshall, Jason Woodward and Josh Hohneck.
A Sinoti Sinoti try helped Newcastle to a 29-12 defeat of Bath. The Falcons had Nili Latu in the pack and Tane Takalua off the bench. Former Manu Samoa prop Anthony Perenise scored a try for the vanquished, while James Wilson, Kahn Fotuali’i and Paul Grant also turned out for Bath.
Three goals off the tee and a dropped goal by Piers Francis were decisive in Northampton’s 25-17 win over London Irish. Teimana Harrison and Ahsee Tuala were alongside him. For the Exiles, James Marshall, Ben Franks, Filo Paulo and Asaeli Tikoirotuma all played.
Leicester’s Kiwi quartet of Telusa Veainu, Brendon O’Connor, Mike FitzGerald and Logovi’i Mulipola helped the Tigers to a 33-18 win over Harlequins, for whom Alofa Alofa scored a try from the wing, while Jono Kitto was in the No. 9 jersey.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar 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.
9 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.
35 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.
2 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
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 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
35 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.
35 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.
35 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.
35 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 commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments