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Form would suggest there may only be two Kiwis involved in next month’s Aviva Premiership final at Twickenham.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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.
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
Says much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
4 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
23 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
23 Go to commentsHas 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
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 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…
16 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.
23 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. 🥴
23 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 comments