Kiwis in Europe: No silverware for Clermont Kiwis
Les Jaunards have fallen far in the French Top 14.
Clermont, the defending champs who edged Toulon in last season’s decider, defeated Bordeaux-Begles 33-3 at home on the weekend, but, for all their 10 wins, are languishing in ninth position with just two rounds to play and will miss the playoffs.
Isaia Toeava, the 32-year-old former All Black, was at fullback against Bordeaux, former Chiefs and Steelers No 8 Fritz Lee started, while Loni ‘The Tongan Bear’ Uhila scored a try after coming on as a substitute. The visitors included Ed Fidow, Fa’asiu Fuatai, and Ben Volavola.
Lyon played well to beat Tony Ensor’s Stade Francais 44-3. Toby Arnold scored a try, while Mike Harris slotted three goals. Rudi Wulf, Toa Halafihi and Taiasina Tuifua also featured for the victors.
Oyonnax won the battle of the cellar-dwellers, 40-17 over Dominiko Waqaniburotu’s Brive. Ben Botica helped himself to a try and six goals for Oyonnax, while hooker Quentin MacDonald scored a try. Hika Elliot was again at blindside flanker.
Pau, preparing for a Challenge Cup semifinal against Cardiff this weekend, was trumped at home, 33-22 by Agen, for whom George Tilsley scored a try and Tom Murday started at lock. Pau’s line-up included fullback Tom Taylor, who kicked three goals, Conrad Smith and Benson Stanley, Colin Slade and Jamie Mackintosh.
Ma’a Nonu’s Toulon defeated leaders Montpellier 32-17, for whom Aaron Cruden kicked a conversion and Jarrad Hoeata started at lock.
Toulouse moved up to second with a 42-27 win over third-placed Racing-Metro. Charlie Faumuina – how the Blues and All Blacks would love him back – and Joe Tekori featured for Toulouse. Joe Rokocoko scored a try for Racing-Metro, while Dan Carter kicked two goals. Also starting were Anthony Tuitavake and Ben Tameifuna.
Castres, thanks to an Alex Tulou try and contributions off the bench from Maama Vaipulu and former Auckland prop Paea Fa’anunu, won 26-18 at La Rochelle, who fielded Victor Vito, Hikairo Forbes and Uini Atonio.
In the Aviva Premiership, a Jason Woodward try helped Gloucester to a comfortable 37-9 victory over Harlequins, who may need to bump up their strategic partnership with New Zealand Rugby. Josh Hohneck, John Afoa, Jeremy Thrush and Motu Matu’u all turned out for the cherry and whites, while Alofa Alofa and Mat Luamanu played for Quins.
Leicester Tigers were tipped over 27-21 by Northampton at Welford Road, a blow to the playoffs chances of Telusa Veainu, who scored a try, Mike FitzGerald, Valentino Mapapalangi and Logovi’i Mulipola. Ahsee Tuala scored a key try for Saints, while Piers Francis, Teimana Harrison and Michael Paterson all appeared.
Jimmy Gopperth’s impact – through three goals, not to mention a yellow card – was all over Wasps’ 30-15 victory over Worcester, who again fielded Jackson Willison, Ben Te’o and Bryce Heem at 12-13-14.
Sean Maitland’s Saracens put 41-6 on Bath, for whom Paul Grant, James Wilson and Kahn Fotuali’i all played.
Thomas Waldrom’s Exeter trounced relegation-bound London Irish 45-5. James Marshall, Ben Franks and Asaeli Tikoirotuma all featured for the Exiles.
Newcastle, with Sinoti Sinoti and Tane Takalua in the mix, defeated Sale 35-30 in the battle of the north. Bryn Evans, Halani Aulika and TJ Ioane all played for the Sharks.
The Guinness PRO14 is heating up, though not for South Africa’s Southern Kings, who were pummelled 45-12 by the Cardiff Blues. The latter started Gareth Anscombe, at fullback, Rey Lee-Lo, Willis Halaholo and Nick Williams.
Treviso, who fielded Jayden Hayward, Monty Ioane, Nasi Manu and Dean Budd, won a fine, if narrow, 17-15 result at Leinster, for whom Jamison Gibson-Park and Michael Bent played.
Edinburgh props Simon Berghan and Jordan Lay enjoyed a 52-14 win over a weakened Scarlets side, who are priming for a Champions Cup semifinal against Leinster this weekend.
Ulster, with Charlie Piutau and Sean Reidy in the mix, blanked Ospreys 8-0. Kieron Fonotia and Ma’afu Fia were on the receiving end.
Rhys Marshall’s Munster beat the Cheetahs 19-17 in Bloemfontein.
Glasgow beat Connacht 35-22. Callum Gibbins and Siua Halanukonuka played for Dave Rennie’s Warriors, while Connacht included Bundee Aki, Tom McCartney and Stacey Ili.
This weekend sees the semifinals of the European Champions Cup and Challenge Cup.
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to comments