Kiwis in Europe: Hughes leads Wasps closer to semis
Total Kiwis: 90
Former Auckland No 8 Nathan Hughes will be the toast of Coventry after inspiring Wasps to a vital 26-19 Gallagher Premiership victory over Exeter Chiefs.
The 27-year-old made 19 carries for 93 metres and 19 tackles, along with a try assist for Juan de Jongh as Wasps won their first ever victory at Sandy Park and moved up to fifth position, just three points shy of Harlequins with three rounds to play.
Brad Shields and Lima Sopoaga, who slotted two goals, also featured for the victors.
A yellow card to Bryce Heem did not stop Worcester inflicting a 39-17 defeat on Denny Solomona’s Sale Sharks. Ben Te’o was in the No 12 jersey for the Warriors.
A try to Ahsee Tuala was critical to Northampton Saints’ 20-19 win at Harlequins which keeps Saints’ semifinal hopes alive. Alongside Tuala were Ben Franks, Teimana Harrison and Piers Francis. Quins fielded Alofa Alofa and Francis Saili.
Josh Hohneck scored a try to help Gloucester to a 27-23 win over Bath. Willi Heinz was at halfback for the cherry and whites. Kahn Fotuali’i and Anthony Perenise turned out for Bath.
Desperate Bristol, still with designs on a top six finish, won 23-21 over Sean Maitland’s second-placed Saracens. Steven Luatua scored a try for the Bears, while Alapati Leiua, John Afoa, Chris Vui, James Lay and Jake Heenan all featured for Pat Lam’s squad.
Mike FitzGerald and Brendon O’Connor both tasted a relieving 27-22 Leicester win at Newcastle. Tane Takalua did his best to keep the Falcons in touch with a try and four goals. His teammates included Sinoti Sinoti, Logovi’i Mulipola, Rodney Ah You, John Hardie and Evan Olmstead, the latter whom should be playing Super Rugby back in New Zealand.
In the Guinness PRO14, Sean Reidy’s Ulster won 29-7 at Edinburgh, for whom Simon Hickey kicked a conversion. Simon Berghan was a front-row replacement.
Rhys Marshall scored a try as Munster beat Treviso 37-28 away from home. Alby Mathewson was at halfback for Munster. For the Italians, Monty Ioane scored a try, while Jayden Hayward, Iliesa Ratuva Tavuyara, Toa Halafihi and Hame Faiva all played.
Ma’afu Fia’s Ospreys defeated the Southern Kings 43-7.
Johnny McNicholl and Hadleigh Parkes were among the tryscorers for Scarlets in their 42-0 blanking of Josh Renton’s Zebre. Kieron Fonotia was used off the bench for Wayne Pivac’s side.
Bundee Aki and Dominic Robertson-McCoy played for Connacht in the 29-22 win over a Cardiff Blues outfit that included Rey Lee-Lo, Willis Halaholo and Gareth Anscombe.
Glasgow beat Leinster 39-24, the latter fielding Jamison Gibson-Park and Michael Bent.
In the French Top 14, a try to Lolagi Visinia helped Grenoble defeat Toulon 19-18. His teammates included Alaska Taufa, Steven Setephano, Leva Fifita, Taleta Tupuola and Halani Aulika. Toulon, bizarrely, fielded Julian Savea in the No 13 jersey (he scored a try) and Malakai Fekitoa in the No 11 shirt. Brian Alainu’uese was in his rightful position of lock.
Fullback Toby Arnold scored a try as Lyon smashed Perpignan 47-9. Rudi Wulf and Charlie Ngatai again partnered in the Lyonnais midfield. Les Catalans fielded Tima Faingaanuku on the wing and Manu Leiataua and Michael Faleafa in the pack.
Stade Francais edged an Agen unit, 25-22, that saw Sam Vaka cross for a try. Paula Ngauamo and Tom Murday also turned out for the south-west French club.
Ihaia West helped himself to a try and six goals as La Rochelle belted hapless Pau 71-21. Victor Vito and Uini Atonio were in the winning pack. Colin Slade was at fullback for the vanquished, slotting three goals and receiving a yellow card. Tom Taylor and Daniel Ramsay also appeared for Pau.
Seta Tamanivalu’s Bordeaux-Begles, scrapping hard for a playoffs berth, fell 16-12 to a Castres squad that fielded Maama Vaipulu, David Smith and Alex Tulou.
Charlie Faumuina, Jerome Kaino and Joe Tekori, despite a yellow card, enjoyed a 47-44 win over Clermont which keeps the red and blacks at the top of the log. Tim Nanai-Williams, at No 10, and Fritz Lee, who also copped a yellow, were in the Clermont side.
Racing-Metro, with Ben Volavola, Ben Tameifuna and Dominic Bird in the ranks, edged Montpellier 26-25. Aaron Cruden kicked two goals off the bench in his return from injury for the latter.
This weekend sees the semifinals in the European competitions.
In other news:
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.
1 Go to comments