Kiwis in Europe: Northampton's Kiwi contingent not enough to topple bottom-dwellers
Total Kiwis: 83
Bath and Sale will have to dissect a 7-all Gallagher Premiership draw which featured a key conversion kicked by James Wilson.
The 35-year-old returned to Todd Blackadder’s Bath after another season with the Southland Stags in the Mitre 10 Cup. He missed a late penalty goal after entering the fray off the pine, but did convert a Joe Cokanasiga try to secure a draw. Jackson Willison, Kahn Fotuali’i and Cooper Vuna also featured for the home side, while Denny Solomona and Bryn Evans appeared for the Sharks.
Bath remains in the top six, while Sale is in the relegation zone, just off the foot of the table. Harlequins, with Francis Saili and Mat Luamanu in the ranks, inflicted a 28-26 defeat on Exeter Chiefs, the first of the season for the latter.
A try to Bryce Heem was insufficient for Worcester, the Warriors falling 36-16 at Gloucester, for whom Jason Woodward, Willi Heinz and Josh Hohneck were starters.
Sean Maitland’s Saracens beat Wasps 29-6. Lima Sopoaga, Brad Shields and Nathan Hughes all started for the vanquished.
Chris Boyd’s Northampton lost 16-14 at home to Newcastle, despite the presence of Ahsee Tuala, Piers Francis, Dylan Hartley, Teimana Harrison and Ben Franks. The Falcons fielded Sinoti Sinoti, John Hardie (newly arrived from Edinburgh), Logovi’i Mulipola and Tane Takalua.
Pat Lam’s Bristol Bears finally hit top gear, routing Leicester 41-10, despite a yellow card to John Afoa. The Piutaus – Charlie and Siale – Alapati Leiua and Steven Luatua all turned out for the Bears, while Brendon O’Connor and Mike FitzGerald appeared for the Tigers.
The news was brighter for Toulon in the French Top 14. Julian Savea, Liam Messam and Brian Alainu’uese all played a part in the crucial 2 -3 win over a Grenoble outfit that included Alaska Taufa, Taiasina Tuifua, Leva Fifita, Taleta Tupuola and Steven Setephano, who saw yellow.
Aaron Cruden’s Montpellier lost 28-23 at home to Clermont. Isaia Toeava, now pushing 33, scored a try, while his teammates included George Moala, Fritz Lee, Loni Uhila and Tim Nanai-Williams.
Four Ihaia West goals were key in La Rochelle’s 16-11 win over Racing-Metro in a clash that featured no less than nine Kiwis. Victor Vito, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Hikairo Forbes and a yellow-carded Uini Atonio tasted victory, while Ole Avei, Dominic Bird, Ben Volavola and Ben Tameifuna all turned out for the Parisians.
Paula Ngauamo and Tom Murday tasted victory in a south-western derby, 16-13 at Castres. David Smith was sinbinned for the Castres, while Alex Tulou was a replacement.
Tries to Toby Arnold and Charlie Ngatai, again, helped Lyon to a convincing 30-10 win over Pau. Rudi Wulf was again at centre for the victors, while Colin Slade, at fullback, Benson Stanley, Daniel Ramsay and Jamie Mackintosh played for Pau.
Bordeaux-Begles beat a Perpignan side that included Genesis Mamea and Shahn Eru 22-11.
Toulouse – with Charlie Faumuina, Joe Tekori and Carl Axtens in the ranks, crushed Stade Francais 49-20. Ziggy Fisi’ihoi and Tony Ensor came off the bench for the Parisians.
In the Guinness PRO14, Josh Renton’s Zebre was on the receiving end of a 43-0 hiding at the hands of Ospreys. Tyler Bleyendaal scored a try in Munster’s 44-14 win over Edinburgh.
Siua Halanukonuka’s Glasgow defeated Scarlets 29-20, with Johnny McNicholl and Kieron Fonotia on the losing side.
Jamison Gibson-Park and Michael Bent appeared for Leinster in the 59-10 win over the Dragons.
A hat-trick to hooker Hame Faiva highlighted Treviso’s 22-19 victory in South Africa against the Southern Kings. Monty Ioane also scored a try for the Italians, while Iliesa Ratuva Tavuyara was on the other wing.
Sean Reidy’s Ulster edged the Cardiff Blues of Rey Lee-Lo and Nick Williams 16-12. Tom McCartney and Dominic Robertson-McCoy played for Connacht in the 21-17 win over the Cheetahs.
Round three of the European competitions plays out this weekend.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
45 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
45 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
45 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
45 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
45 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
45 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
45 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments