Kiwis in Europe: Maitland and Waldrom set for showdown
Form would suggest there may only be two Kiwis involved in next month’s Aviva Premiership final at Twickenham.
This follows confirmation that defending champs Exeter Chiefs and Saracens will host home semifinals in three weeks’ time. The penultimate round of the Premiership saw Exeter defeat Sale 34-19, with warhorse No 8 Thomas Waldrom featuring as a replacement. He still has a chance to round out his long UK career with more silverware before heading home to Wellington for another crack with the Lions.
The Sharks fielded Bryn Evans, Halani Aulika and Johnny Leota.
Saracens smashed relegation-bound London Irish 51-14, with wing Sean Maitland running for 71m on nine carries, as well as making four tackles.
Blair Cowan copped a yellow card for the Exiles, while Ben Franks and Asaeli Tikoirotuma also turned out for Irish.
Wasps confirmed their playoffs berth, beating Northampton 36-29. Jimmy Gopperth was again to the fore, slotting six goals, even as he closes in on his 35th birthday.
Ahsee Tuala and Teimana Harrison both scored for the Saints, while Piers Francis started at second five.
Worcester ensured it will play Premiership rugby in 2018-19 by hammering Harlequins 44-13, the three Kiwis – Bryce Heem, Ben Te’o and Jackson Willison – all crossing for tries. Mat Luamanu and Alofa Alofa started for Quins.
Newcastle won a famous, late, 25-23 victory at Welford Road. Sinoti Sinoti and Tane Takalua, who kicked a conversion, played for the Falcons. Mike FitzGerald scored a try for Leicester, while Telusa Veainu, Brendon O’Connor and Logovi’i Mulipola all turned out for the Tigers.
Tries to Cooper Vuna and James Wilson helped Bath to a convincing 43-20 win at Gloucester. Kahn Fotuali’i and Anthony Perenise also started for Todd Blackadder’s men. Jason Woodward scored a try for the home team, while Tom Marshall, Josh Hohneck, John Afoa and Motu Matu’u all played.
In the Guinness PRO14, prop Jordan Lay scored a try in Edinburgh’s 24-19 victory over Glasgow. Simon Berghan was on the other side of the Edinburgh scrum. Callum Gibbins scored a try for the vanquished, while Siua Halanukonuka was a replacement.
Munster’s Rhys Marshall and Sean Reidy’s Ulster had a 24-all stalemate.
Despite an 18-point haul from No 10 Gareth Anscombe, which included a try and five goals, Cardiff Blues fell 23-26 to Ospreys. Veteran Taufa’ao Filise propped the Blues scrum, while Kieron Fonotia and Ma’afu Fia turned out for Ospreys.
Zebre upset a Treviso side, 22-17, which featured Jayden Hayward, Monty Ioane, Hame Faiva, Dean Budd and Marty Banks.
Hadleigh Parkes’ Scarlets sealed a home semifinal berth with a 33-8 defeat of Dragons.
Bundee Aki scored a try for Connacht in the big 47-10 win over Leinster. Tom McCartney came off the bench for the victors. Leinster’s Kiwi contingent was James Lowe, Michael Bent and Jamison Gibson-Park.
In the penultimate round of the French Top 14 regular season, George Tilsley and Tom Murday both enjoyed Agen’s 27-17 win over Clermont, though Tilsley was binned, as was Clermont No 8 Fritz Lee. Isaia Toeava and Loni Uhila also featured for Les Jaunards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQYALhGTnkc
Aaron Cruden and Nemani Nadolo were among the tries as Montpellier crushed Pau 45-13. Jarrad Hoeata started at lock for the home side, while Pau fielded Conrad Smith, Tom Taylor (three goals), Jamie Mackintosh and Daniel Ramsay.
A yellow card to Tony Ensor did not prevent Stade Francais, who have named Heyneke Meyer as its new coach, beating Brive 30-22.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3JtOa-1mDs
Quentin MacDonald scored a try and Ben Botica kicked five goals as Oyonnax defeated Lyon 39-18. Hika Elliot started at No 8, while former Tonga and Blues rep Viliami Ma’afu came off the pine. Toa Halafihi scored a try for Lyon, while Mike Harris kicked two goals. Toby Arnold and Rudi Wulf also started.
Tries to Ma’a Nonu, plus a yellow card, and Alby Mathewson, saw Toulon smash Castres 59-13. The latter fielded Alex Tulou, Maama Vaipulu and Paea Fa’anunu.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc8HJjiTMt0
Charlie Faumuina and Joe Tekori were in the Toulouse side that edged La Rochelle 19-14. Victor Vito scored a try for the latter, while Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Hikairo Forbes and Uini Atonio all featured.
Racing-Metro won a fine 39-15 victory at Bordeaux-Begles. Dan Carter slotted six goals, while Ben Tameifuna, So’otala Fa’aso’o and Anthony Tuitavake also played for the Parisians. Ed Fidow and Luke Braid fronted for the home side.
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Comments on RugbyPass
No Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe 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.
5 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 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.
11 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.
5 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
55 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.
18 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.
18 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 comments