Kiwis in Europe: Kiwi Toulonnais starting to fire
Total Kiwis: 76
Toulon is moving slowly up the French Top 14 standings due in no small part to the New Zealand influence.
The red and blacks defeated Agen 32-3, with No 8 Liam Messam scoring a try. Centre Malakai Fekitoa, just hours after revealing he still harbours All Blacks aspirations, scored one himself and set up wing Josua Tuisova with an exquisite pass. Julian Savea was on the left wing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuPO8GqEV_M
This was Toulon’s second win out of five matches in a difficult start to the 2018-19 season, and the club now lies 11th.
Nemani Nadolo scored a brace in Montpellier’s crushing 66-15 win over a Toulouse side that included Pita Ahki, Carl Axtens and Joe Tekori.
Ziggy Fisi’ihoi’s Stade Francais beat Pau 25-13. Colin Slade, Benson Stanley, Daniel Ramsay and Tom Taylor appeared for the latter.
Bordeaux-Begles beat Clermont 23-19, with Isaia Toeava, Fritz Lee, George Moala and Loni Uhila turning out for Les Jaunards.
Grenoble – with Steven Setephano, Alaska Taufa and Lolagi Visinia in the ranks – won an important 31-22 win over a Perpignan outfit that included Michael Faleafa and Shahn Eru.
Ihaia West slotted three goals for La Rochelle in the 30-13 victory over Lyon. Alongside West were Uini Atonio, Victor Vito, Tawera Kerr Barlow and Hikairo Forbes. Charlie Ngatai scored a late try for Lyon, while Toby Arnold entered off the bench.
Racing-Metro defeated Castres 27-11, with Alex Tulou copping a yellow card for the south-western club. Dominic Bird made his debut for the Parisians, while Ben Volavola, Joe Rokocoko, Ole Avei and Ben Tameifuna also featured.
In the Guinness PRO14, Ma’afu Fia’s Ospreys beat Monty Ioane’s Treviso 27-10, while Callum Gibbins’ Glasgow Warriors lost 28-38 to the Southern Kings. Sean Reidy’s Ulster scored a late converted try to force a 39-all draw at the Cheetahs’ home.
Gareth Anscombe had a good outing for his Cardiff Blues, which beat Munster 37-13. Anscombe kicked seven goals for 17 points, while Nick Williams and Willis Halaholo scored tries.
James Lowe scored a try for Leinster in the 31-7 defeat of Simon Berghan and Simon Hickey’s Edinburgh. Jamison Gibson-Park and Michael Bent also played for the Irish province.
Brandon Nansen’s Dragons beat Zebre 16-5. Loose forward Jimmy Tuivaiti powered through the work for the Italian club, making 17 tackles.
Bundee Aki played strongly, setting up a try in Connacht’s 33-20 win over Scarlets. Tom McCartney and Dominic Robertson-McCoy came off the bench for the victors, while Blade Thomson, Hadleigh Parkes and Johnny McNicholl – the latter whom scored a try – turned out for Wayne Pivac’s charges.
In the Gallagher Premiership, Bryce Heem’s Worcester won a vital 44-37 result at Leicester. Sean Maitland crossed the tryline in Saracens’ 38-15 defeat of Gloucester.
Bristol and its six Kiwis tasted a 20-13 win over Harlequins. Siale Piutau, Alapati Leiua, John Afoa, Chris Vui, Steven Luatua and Jack Lam all played for the Bears.
Todd Blackadder got one over Chris Boyd as Bath edged Northampton 17-15. Anthony Perenise and Jackson Willison played for the west country club, while Ahsee Tuala, Piers Francis, Dylan Hartley, Ben Franks and Teimana Harrison turned out for the Saints.
A try to Nathan Hughes and five goals to Lima Sopoaga helped Wasps to a 31-13 at Sale, for whom Bryn Evans and Denny Solomona played. Exeter defeated Newcastle 24-17, with Tane Takalua and Logovi’i Mulipola turning out for the Falcons.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
One that will start to come up from now on is penalties for back pushes during kick chase scrambles. Very difficult to detect. In Croke Park if you replay the Hendy NH try, you will see Furbank push Porter in the back, who collides with Larmour knocking the ball across into Hendy’s path to dot down. A more significant example was in the RWC QTR final where Arendse pushes Fickou into two other French players for the ball to spill into Arendse’s path for him to gather and run in to score SAs first try. Not cheating if you are not caught and very difficult to spot but with kicking becoming so critical I feel its an area that will referreeed/TMO-ed more.
3 Go to commentsWhat a pathetic little twit Andy Goode is, as if we care what he thinks…..😂
110 Go to commentsFoxy has been a wonderful player for the Scarlets and Wales.
1 Go to commentsNika the Georgian is the best referee in the world at the moment. Luckily we will be spared the shite SH refs and Barnes will hopefully remain retired given how shite and embarrassing he was at the RWC.
3 Go to commentsThis is the most exciting game of the summer imo, as we really won’t know in advance how both teams are going to play. - Will Robertson just reproduce his Crusaders tactics from last year, or will there be a conscious effort to borrow from the Hurricanes and Blues, and from the aspects of the ABs world cup strategy that worked well? - England under Borthwick have put in some good performances playing attacking rugby, and some good performances playing kick-oriented defensive rugby. Will Borthwick try to merge them together into a single all-court game, or will he continue switching between different approaches depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition?
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
9 Go to commentsFinals are always tense affairs for the players so I do not expect this to be a spectacle of running rugby unfortunately.
3 Go to commentsBulls***': Ex-England international calls out Eben Etzebeth… Not to his face but from very far away… after he’d left. Checked to make sure he wasn’t in the building.
110 Go to commentsHopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
3 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to commentsNOW Razor is worried about ABs getting injured or overplayed! Didn’t bother him last year. He happily played his AB Crusaders.
4 Go to commentsWhat is the World Rugby U20 players born year.
2 Go to commentsMuch like the Chiefs finally gave up waiting for Atu Moli to ever not be injured, you have to wonder if the Chiefs and Crusaders will let Josh Lord and Ethan Blackadder go next season. They’re being well paid to sit in the injury ward every year. Better off putting those funds towards someone who might actually play.
7 Go to commentsShowed better basic skills than some nz Super sides, who probably would have botched some of those backline moves. This tournament really is too short though. Needs more teams, or have them play two rounds to properly prepare them for the near full-time NH U20 sides.
4 Go to commentsGood grief it’s only six months. Probably just upset it’s not an established kiwi entering their prime they can “project” into green to join the rest.
3 Go to commentsGood player but far from being best in the world. That's an exaggeration. Perhaps Best in world by Northern Hemisphere standards and biasis but certainly not Southern Hemi standards
3 Go to commentsWell one thing about World Cup knock out rounds and Ireland is very clear: they won’t be getting ahead of themselves in ‘27! Because making it beyond the QF is well and truly ‘IN THEIR HEADS’ now…😉
110 Go to commentsHas this guy been dope tested? Sounds like a case of “roid rage”.
1 Go to comments