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It may be nearly two years since we have seen Jason Woodward in New Zealand rugby, but he is still marking his mark on the game in the north.
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After playing a key role in the Hurricanes’ first, and only, Super Rugby title in 2016, he played the 2016-17 season at Bristol, and is now just down the road with Gloucester.
The 27-year-old fullback scored a try for his club in the weekend’s 21-20 Aviva Premiership defeat to Newcastle, the west country club’s first at home this season. Other Kiwis in the Gloucester mix were Tom Marshall, John Afoa, Josh Hohneck, Motu Matu’u and Willi Heinz. The Falcons, who are swiftly ascending the table, fielded Sinoti Sinoti, Nili Latu and Tane Takalua.
Sale won 34-25 at Northampton, thanks mainly to a first half hat-trick to wing Denny Solomona, whose teammates included Bryn Evans and Halani Aulika.
Michael Paterson scored a try for Saints, while Piers Francis kicked four goals. Others involved included Ken Pisi, Teimana Harrison, Ahsee Tuala and Nafi Tuitavake.
Four games were postponed a day due to the so-called ‘Beast from the East’ weather bomb.
Thomas Waldrom’s Exeter Chiefs extended their lead atop the log by beating second-placed Saracens 24-12.
Jimmy Gopperth’s Wasps defeated London Irish 24-16, the Exiles fielding James Marshall, Ben Franks, Filo Paulo and Asaeli Tikoirotuma.
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Harlequins, fresh from formally cementing an alliance with New Zealand Rugby, beat Todd Blackadder’s Bath 20-5. Francis Saili, Mat Luamanu and Alofa Alofa featured for Quins, while Kahn Fotuali’i and James Wilson were the Bath halves.
Two tries to fullback Telusa Veainu helped Leicester to a 34-5 win over Worcester, for whom Bryce Heem and Jackson Willison played. Logovi’i Mulipola, Mike FitzGerald and Brendon O’Connor also ran out for the Tigers.
The weather curtailed play in the Guinness PRO14, with several matches postponed.
The only game that featured New Zealanders was Connacht’s 25-26 loss to the Cheetahs. Pita Ahki, Tom McCartney and Dominic Robertson-McCoy played for the Irish province.
In the French Top 14, Luke McAlister came off the pine to see Clermont through to a 21-17 victory over La Rochelle, whose ranks featured Uini Atonio, Jason Eaton, Victor Vito, Hikairo Forbes and Rene Ranger.
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Ben Botica was amongst the points for Oyonnax, who defeated Tony Ensor’s Stade Francais 33-27. Botica scored a try and kicked five goals for a haul of 18 points. Hika Elliot, again at blindside flanker, scored a try. Quentin MacDonald was the starting hooker.
Joe Tekori’s Toulouse celebrated the August arrival of Jerome Kaino by beating Bordeaux-Begles 25-19 away from home. Simon Hickey kicked a goal for the vanquished, while Ed Fidow and Ben Volavola also saw game time.
Tom Murday’s Agen upset leaders Montpellier 31-29. Aaron Cruden kicked a goal for the latter, while Jarrad Hoeata was shown a red card after just six minutes.
A try and four goals, including a telling late conversion, by Colin Slade saw Pau to a 29-27 win at Castres. Alongside him in the green and whites were the midfield combination of Conrad Smith and Benson Stanley, and replacement prop Jamie Mackintosh.
Castres fielded David Smith, Alex Tulou and Maama Vaipulu.
Dan Carter slotted two conversions as Racing-Metro moved up to second with a 17-13 win over Brive. Ben Tameifuna and Oli Avei also played for the Parisians.
Mike Harris’ five penalty goals were central to Lyon’s 15-6 victory over Toulon. Toby Arnold, Rudi Wulf and Taiasina Tuifua all turned out for the Lyonnais, while Toulon sent out Alby Mathewson, Ma’a Nonu and Malakai Fekitoa.
This weekend sees round 20 of the Top 14, while there is just one catch-up game in the PRO14, and the Aviva Premiership breaks for the final two rounds of the Six Nations.
Comments on RugbyPass
Super 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?
8 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.
8 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
14 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
14 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 commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
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