Kiwis in Europe - Tries aplenty for Kiwis in Europe
Tries by New Zealanders are flowing in Europe.
No less than 15 by Kiwis were scored over the weekend’s final pool round of European Champions and Challenge Cups action. Nine came in the Champions Cup alone.
Hooker Rhys Marshall was amongst the five-pointers for Munster in its 48-3 hiding of Castres, who started David Smith and Alex Tulou.
Brendon O’Connor’s try was not quite enough for Leicester, who went down 20-23 at home to Racing-Metro in a match notable for the long-awaited return from injury of Dan Carter, via the bench. Joe Rokocoko and Ben Tameifuna were among his teammates. For the Tigers, Logovi’i Mulipola, Mike FitzGerald and Valentino Mapapalangi also came off the bench.
Former Steelers and Patumahoe flanker Sean Reidy scored Ulster’s sole try in the 26-7 defeat to Wasps. Rodney Ah You and Charlie Piutau also took the field for the Ulstermen.
The Kiwi quintet of Rene Ranger, Victor Vito, Jason Eaton, Uini Atonio and Tawera Kerr-Barlow tasted 16-7 victory over the Harlequins of Alofa Alofa and Mat Luamanu.
Hadleigh Parkes’ early try was key in Scarlets’ 30-27 win over Toulon, for whom Ma’a Nonu and Alby Mathewson featured.
A late try to Monty Ioane was not nearly enough for Treviso, who fell 28-47 at home to Bath. Dean Budd, Whetu Douglas and Hame Faiva lined up alongside Ioane. Kahn Fotuali’i, Paul Grant and James Wilson turned out for Bath, as did No 8 Zach Mercer, who scored a try. The latter, the 2017 England Under 20s skipper and son of former Kiwis league rep Gary Mercer, is in Eddie Jones’ England squad and could even make his debut within a fortnight.
Sean Maitland scored a try in Saracens’ 62-14 shellacking of Northampton. Nafi Tuitavake scored for the Saints. His teammates included Ken Pisi, Dylan Hartley and Michael Paterson.
A late Luke McAlister try sealed Clermont’s quarter-final berth with a 24-7 victory over Ospreys. Fritz Lee and Isaia Toeava also started for Les Jaunards. Ma’afu Fia and Kieron Fonotia were replacements for the Welsh region.
Siua Halanukonuka’s Glasgow edged Exeter 28-21, though neither side have qualified for the quarters.
Isa Nacewa showed his versatility, wearing the No 12 jersey as he helped Leinster to a 23-14 win at Montpellier. Jamison Gibson-Park (9) and James Lowe (11) also turned out against Aaron Cruden, who kicked two goals.
In the Challenge Cup, Bundee Aki was one of Connacht’s tryscorers in the 50-14 crushing of Oyonnax. Dominic Robertson-McCoy and Naulia Dawai also featured.
For the vanquished, Roimata Hansell-Pune copped a yellow, while Quentin MacDonald was the starting hooker.
Fa’asiu Fuatai scored a try and Ben Volavola kicked two goals for Bordeaux-Begles in the 33-17 loss to Dragons. Dominiko Waqaniburotu scored a try for Brive, who dispatched Jackson Willison’s Worcester 33-7. William Lloyd’s London Irish won 24-17 at Krasny Yar. Former Wallaby, the New Zealand-born Richard Kingi, was at fullback for Enisei in the Russian club’s 19-33 defeat to Newcastle.
Frank Halai and Daniel Ramsay each scored tries in Pau’s 34-24 defeat of Gloucester. Colin Slade kicked six goals for Pau, who are coached by Simon Mannix and Carl Hayman. Conrad Smith and Peter Saili also took the field. Jeremy Thrush scored a try for the Cherry and Whites, alongside Jason Woodward, Motu Matu’u, Josh Hohneck and John Afoa.
Paul Williams and Tony Ensor enjoyed a 17-10 victory over Edinburgh, while the Cardiff Blues, featuring Gareth Anscombe and Rey Lee-Lo, beat Lyon 21-18. Taiasina Tuifua and Josh Bekhuis turned out for France’s gastronomic capital.
Toulouse, with Jarrod Poi, Paul Perez, Carl Axtens and Joe Tekori in the mix, beat Halani Aulika’s Sale 28-21.
The European quarter-finals will play out on the weekend of March 29-April 1.
This weekend sees round three of Anglo-Welsh Cup play and the resumption of the French Top 14.
Comments on RugbyPass
Oh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on the @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
2 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
2 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays 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…
5 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.
26 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 comments