Kiwis in Europe: Bears-Saints Premiership derby almost a Kiwi Super Rugby match
This morning’s Northampton versus Bristol Gallagher Premiership contest is the sort that this Kiwis in Europe column just loves.
We had the two New Zealand head coaches in the competition – Chris Boyd of the Saints and Pat Lam of the Bears – going head to head in a Six Nations hiatus with no less than 13 players who have a New Zealand rugby connection.
Bristol prevailed 20-14, making a stirring comeback to hold fourth position in a Premiership table that is tight as a drum with Saracens now out of the playoffs picture. The Bears can partly thank a 61st minute try by replacement Henry Purdy, who is a not a Kiwi but did scores three tries in 10 outings for Otago in last season’s Mitre 10 Cup.
Continue reading below…
Fullback Charlie Piutau was again the most dangerous back on the park, running for 87m from 16 carries, while Chris Vui pulled down a game-high six lineouts. Other Bears to feature were Alapati Leiua, John Afoa, Steven Luatua, Nathan Hughes and Jake Heenan.
Saints fielded Matt Proctor, Owen Franks, Teimana Harrison, Ben Franks and Ahsee Tuala. Boyd’s men still hold second place in the Premiership.
Exeter won 26-15 at Gloucester, which fielded Josh Hohneck and Tom Marshall.
London Irish’s Kiwi contingent of Waisake Naholo, Terence Hepetema and NZ-educated former Wallaby prop Sekope Kepu enjoyed a 29-15 away win over Harlequins.
Leicester’s Telusa Veainu scored a try to help his team defeat Wasps 18-9. Jordan Taufua was in the No 7 jersey for the Tigers. For the vanquished, second five Jimmy Gopperth slotted three penalty goals, playing outside Jacob Umaga. Brad Shields was used off the bench.
Saracens are proving a nuisance, despite their automatic relegation at season’s end, beating Sale 36-22. The Sharks fielded Bryn Evans and Denny Solomona.
Bath’s Jackson Willison enjoyed a narrow 22-21 win over Worcester’ Matt Moulds.
In the French Top 14, the struggles continued for defending champion Toulouse, edged 30-27 by Racing-Metro in Paris.
Ben Volavola, Ben Tameifuna, and Dominic Bird all played for the Parisians, while Pita Ahki scored a try for the visitors and Joe Tekori was sin binned.
Castres’ Maama Vaipulu helped his club defeat Agen 43-24. Appearing for the Agenais were JJ Taulagi, Sam Vaka, Paula Ngauamo and Tom Murday.
Stade Francais edged a La Rochelle side (21-20) that included Ihaia West, this time at fullback, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Victor Vito and Uini Atonio.
Former Crusaders wing Nemani Nadolo crossed for a hat-trick in Montpellier’s narrow 31-29 win over Alofa Alofa’s Bayonne.
Tim Nanai-Williams, Fritz Lee and Loni Uhila all played in Clermont’s 23-20 victory at Pau, which fielded Ben Smith and Ziggy Fisi’ihoi.
Toulon’s Kiwi quartet of Bryce Heem, Brian Alainu’uese, Liam Messam and Julian Savea all tasted a 34-17 victory over So’otala Fa’aso’o’s Brive.
Ben Botica kicked three goals and Seta Tamanivalu scored a try as high-fliers Bordeaux-Begles beat Lyon 37-19. Toby Arnold, Rudi Wulf, and Charlie Ngatai, who kicked two penalty goals, all featured in the Lyonnais backline.
In the Guinness PRO14, Aki Seiuli’s Glasgow crushed Zebre 56-24. Junior Laloifi, who was binned, Josh Renton and Jimmy Tuivaiti all turned out for the Italians.
A try to Matt Faddes was not quite enough as Ulster went down 26-24 to Ospreys. Sean Reidy was on the side of the scrum for the Ulstermen.
Simon Hickey’s Edinburgh won 14-19 at Scarlets, for whom Sam Lousi and Kieron Fonotia featured.
A try to prop Michael Bent helped Leinster overcome the Cheetahs 36-12. Halfback Jamison Gibson-Park was used off the pine.
Dominic Robertson-McCoy’s Connacht blanked Cardiff Blues 29-0. Rey Lee-Lo, Filo Paulo and Nick Williams turned out for the Blues.
Full rounds of all three competitions will be played this weekend, despite the third round of the Six Nations.
Ian Foster answers questions put forward from RugbyPass’ fans:
Comments on RugbyPass
Je suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
25 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
25 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
25 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
25 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
11 Go to comments