Kiwis carving up the north: not the best weekend results-wise
The All Blacks arrived at Twickenham over the weekend and played a Barbarians side with 12 more Kiwis in it, so it's fair to say the New Zealand influence in Europe right now is pretty high. However, for the guys already there, it was another weekend on the job.
Here's some of the key performers:
Jamison Gibson-Park, Leinster
The former Blues halfback's Leinster team didn't have the best of days in their Pro14 clash with Glasgow, going down to the unbeaten Warriors 31-21 in a match that featured one of the tries of the season. However, Gibson-Park managed to do his best to stem the tide with a try of his own, six tackles and 29 metres run.
TJ Ioane, Sale
Another man to get on the scoresheet, this time in the first round of the Anglo-Welsh Cup. Ioane, originally from Wellington but better known for his career down with Otago and the Highlanders, bagged a try early on in the Sharks' 24-21 win over Worcester and was prominent in an open game.
Malakai Fekitoa, Toulon
Only a few weeks out of New Zealand, but it's probably a good time to check in with former Highlander and All Black Fekitoa, who had to endure a 26-24 Top 14 loss to Agen over the weekend. He put in a good shift, though, with 11 carries for 50 metres and 10 tackles. Inside him were two more former All Blacks, Ma'a Nonu and Luke McAlister - if the latter had a better day with the boot then Toulon might've ended up on the right side of the scoresheet.
Quentin MacDonald, Oyonnax
The hooker from Tasman and the Crusaders had a big game for the Top 14 cellar-dwellers, but even his try couldn't help a 32-19 loss to Castres Olympique. All the rest of Oyonnax's points came from the boot of fellow Kiwi Ben Botica, while MacDonald found himself replaced by former Chief and All Black hooker Zika Elliott in the second half.
Colin Slade, Section Paloise
Slade, a man best remembered for getting himself injured at the worst possible times for the Crusaders and All Blacks, is making a good fist of his time in France. He's a regular feature in the Pau side, and his five penalties and eight tackles almost saw them upset Parisian glamour club Racing 92. They went down 23-20, but fellow former All Black Frank Halai managed to get a try for Pau.
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Can someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
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