Kiwis in Europe: The New Zealand trio suffering a tough start to the new PRO14 season
Glasgow’s Kiwi contingent of TJ Ioane, Aki Seiuli and Fotu Lokotui have endured a tough start to the PRO14 with the Warriors.
The trio were involved in the Warriors’ 27-13 defeat to Munster on a wet old night at Scotstoun. That gives Glasgow just one win from its first six games of the season.
No 8 Ioane himself was in the thick of the action in what was a niggly contest.
Lokotui, who entered the fray as a sub, was due to come back for the Mitre 10 Cup season with Counties Manukau, but was unable to enter New Zealand due to border control regulations governing non-Kiwi nationals. He carries a Tongan passport and has played for the Ikale Tahi.
Ioane and loosehead prop Seiuli would have been disappointed to see their old Otago province go down to Northland in last Friday’s Mitre 10 Cup Championship semifinal.
Munster’ reserve hooker Rhys Marshall, formerly of the Chiefs and Taranaki, was a second stanza sub for the victors.
Elsewhere in the PRO14, which has just 12 teams, Ma’afu Fia’s Ospreys edged Treviso 24-22. Hame Faiva and the back three of Jayden Hayward, Monty Ioane and Iliesa Ratuva Tavuyara all turned out for the Italians.
Dominic Robertson-McCoy’s Connacht team flogged Zebre 47-12. Junior Laloifi and Josh Renton played for the latter.
Michael Bent’s Leinster was also too strong for Cardiff, 40-5.
Sam Lousi was a late scratching due to Covid-19 protocols for Scarlets in their 24-26 defeat to Ulster. The Irish team fielded Matt Faddes, who was yellow carded, and Alby Mathewson, while flanker Sean Reidy scored an important try.
The Queensland Rugby Union has today announced the Queensland Reds have signed teenage flyhalf Tom Lynagh, son of Wallabies great Michael. #QueenslandReds https://t.co/NXydXD8vYR
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 23, 2020
In the opening round of the 2020-21 Gallagher Premiership, Denny Solomona’s Sale beat Northampton 32-23. The Saints fielded five players with Kiwi connections: former Blues five-eighths Piers Francis scored a try, while Teimana Harrison, Matt Proctor, Ahsee Tuala and Owen Franks all featured.
Former Manu Samoa and Hawke’s Bay prop Logovi’i Mulipola enjoyed newly promoted Newcastle Falcons’ 19-12 win at Bath.
Former Hurricanes right wing Kobus van Wyk made a solid start to his new career at Leicester, scoring a try in the Tigers’ 38-15 over Jason Woodward’s Gloucester.
Melani Nanai and Worcester edged, 11-10, a London Irish outfit that included forwards Motu Matu’u, Sekope Kepu and Blair Cowan.
At 37, Jimmy Gopperth is still doing the business for Wasps, slotting five key goals as his team beat Bristol 23-20. Lima Sopoaga was at fullback, while Jacob Umaga, who helped Auckland to the 2018 Premiership, was at 10. Jeff Toomaga-Allen and Brad Shields were in the Wasps’ pack.
Bristol fielded the evergreen John Afoa, now 37, Chris Vui, Jake Heenan, Alapati Leiua and Siale Piutau, who scored a try.
In the French Top 14, it was time for catch-up games after Covid-19 had played havoc with the schedule.
Joe Ravouvou and Mat Luamanu enjoyed Bayonne’s 35-39 win over Toulon, who fielded some old heads.
Ma’a Nonu, at 38, copped a yellow card, while former All Black Isaia Toeava, pushing 35, wore the No 10 jersey for the red and blacks, as he did for Auckland back in 2005. Also featuring were Tane Takalua and Brian Alainu’uese.
Ihaia West kicked all three goals in La Rochelle’s tryless 9-6 encounter with Racing-Metro, for whom Dominic Bird was at lock. Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Uini Atonio also played for les Rochelais.
Telusa Veainu’s Stade Francais beat Bordeaux-Begles 26-16, despite the best efforts of Ben Botica (four goals) and Ben Lam (a try to go with a yellow card). Ben Tameifuna anchored the Bordeaux scrum.
Comments on RugbyPass
Brayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to comments