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Kiwis in Europe - Aplenty in line for silverware
New Zealand coaches and players are in the thick of the action as the European season reaches silverware time.
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Dave Rennie, in his second season with Glasgow, has guided the Warriors into the Guinness PRO 14 final in fine style, smacking Sean Reidy’s Ulster 50-20 in one semifinal over the weekend. Callum Gibbins, who worked with Rennie many moons ago at Manawatu, was on the openside flank for the victors.
One of Rennie’s former Chiefs players – wing James Lowe – scored a try as Leinster beat Alby Mathewson’s Munster 24-9 in the other semifinal. The decider will be played this weekend at Celtic Park in Glasgow.
Scarlets did not farewell coach Wayne Pivac in style, falling 21-10 to Ma’afu Fia’s Ospreys in the playoff for a Champions Cup berth in 2019-20. Pivac’s regional team fielded a Kiwi trio of Johnny McNicholl, Hadleigh Parkes and Blade Thomson.
The regular season of England’s Gallagher Premiership has wound up with Chris Boyd’s Northampton Saints scraping into fourth position despite a 40-21 defeat to Exeter, to whom they travel for this weekend’s semifinal.
Piers Francis scored a try for Saints, and alongside him were Ahsee Tuala, Ben Franks and Teimana Harrison.
Todd Blackadder’s Bath, with Kahn Fotuali’i as replacement halfback, sealed sixth and a Champions Cup berth with a last gasp 32-31 win at Leicester, despite a double to the Tigers’ Brendon O’Connor. Mike FitzGerald and Valentino Mapapalangi were also in the Tigers’ loose forwards.
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Bristol’s clutch of New Zealanders or New Zealand origin players ended the season with a 19-12 win at Newcastle, but ninth place is below the Bears’ pre-season ambitions. Tusi Pisi, Jack Lam, Steven Luatua, Chris Vui, John Afoa, James Lay, Siale Piutau, Alapati Leiua and Charlie Piutau all featured, while Logovi’i Mulipola and Evan Olmstead played for the relegated Falcons.
A Denny Solomona try helped Sale edge semifinal-bound Gloucester 46-41, for whom Tom Marshall was used off the bench. Bryn Evans was a sub for the Sharks.
Alofa Alofa’s Harlequins were shut out of the semis due to a 27-25 reverse to Wasps, for whom Lima Sopoaga kicked five goals. Brad Shields and Nathan Hughes were in the loose.
A try to Michael Fatialofa helped Worcester to a tight 31-29 upset win over second-placed Saracens. Ben Te’o was in the Warriors’ midfield.
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The French Top 14, as ever, still has one more round to play before the playoffs.
Toulouse is well clear at the top after a 43-36 win over Begles-Bordeaux which featured a try to former Auckland lock Joe Tekori. Jerome Kaino and Pita Ahki also turned out for the winners. George Tilsley scored a try for the home side, while Seta Tamanivalu scored a yellow card.
Aaron Cruden scored a try for Montpellier in the 42-25 defeat to Stade Francais.
Toulon gave its long-suffering Stade de Mayol faithful something to cheer about with a 32-11 shutout of high-flying Clermont. Malakai Fekitoa, Liam Messam and Brian Alainu’uese all enjoyed the victory, while Tim Nanai-Williams kicked two goals for the Yellows. Fritz Lee, Isaia Toeava and George Moala also fronted.
A Charlie Ngatai try helped Lyon to a 29-19 win over La Rochelle, which played Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Faifili Levave.
Castres fielded David Smith, Maama Vaipulu, Paea Fa’anunu and Alex Tulou in the 17-10 win over an Agen side which included Sam Vaka and Tom Murday.
Three Colin Slade goals helped Pau, which also included Benson Stanley, to a 22-0 blanking of Grenoble. Taleta Tupuola, Leva Fifita and Halani Aulika appeared for the latter.
Ben Tameifuna, Dominic Bird, Ole Avei and Ben Volavola enjoyed a 52-14 Racing-Metro win over relegation-bound Perpignan, which fielded Tima Faingaanuku and Shahn Eru.
The Academy with Leicester Tigers – Part 6:
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks 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.
10 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.
24 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.
10 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.
17 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.
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