Kiwis in Europe - Lowe hits high notes for Leinster

Total Kiwis: 89

James Lowe’s strong form continues following a two-try effort for Leinster in its 20-13 Guinness PRO14 win over Scarlets over the weekend.

The 25-year-old former Chiefs and Makos wing, who debuted in December, ran in a double and set up one other in his sixth outing for the Irish province. Furthermore, he ran 15 times for 112m.

Michael Bent started at tighthead prop for Leinster, while Johnny McNicholl scored a try for Scarlets, who slip to second, behind Leinster, on the Conference B table.

Zebre, with former Chiefs and Waikato lock James Tucker in the engine room, engineered a 19-11 upset at Connacht, whose ranks included Naulia Dawai, Tom McCartney and Pita Ahki.

Nick Williams, Taufa’ao Filise and Rey Lee-Lo were in the winners’ circle as the Cardiff Blues edged Munster 25-18. Rhys Marshall was at hooker for the latter, while Tyler Bleyendaal made his comeback off the bench, kicking a penalty goal.

Treviso scored a fifth straight win, 18-15, over the Dragons. Monty Ioane scored a try and Marty Banks slotted two goals. Hame Faiva and Whetu Douglas were also involved.

Ma’afu Fia and Kieron Fonotia enjoyed a 26-12 win for Ospreys over the Southern Kings. Prop Siua Halanukonuka scored a try for Glasgow in the Warriors’ 37-23 victory over the Cheetahs. John Hardie and Jordan Lay of Edinburgh had a tight 17-16 win over Rodney Ah You’s Ulster.

In the French Top 14, Mike Harris may be the forgotten Wallaby, but the Kiwi-born, former North Harbour and NZ Under 20s pivot was among the points in Lyon’s 36-10 defeat of Clermont. He scored a try and kicked three goals, while Toby Arnold ran in a try on the wing. Rudi Wulf and Taiasina Tuifua were among their teammates. Fritz Lee and Luke McAlister, at second five, appeared for Clermont.

David Smith and Alex Tulou and their Castres’ teammates had a narrow 7-6 win at Bordeaux-Begles, for whom Simon Hickey returned to the starting XV, though he did not kick goals. Fa’asiu Fuatai was on the wing.

Dan Carter slotted two conversions in Racing-Metro’s 19-12 win over La Rochelle. Alongside him were the likes of Anthony Tuitavake, Ben Tameifuna, Ole Avei and Joe Rokocoko. La Rochelle had Hikairo Forbes, Jason Eaton, Uini Atonio and Tawera Kerr-Barlow in their ranks.

Joe Tekori scored a try for Toulouse, which won 52-25 in its local derby against Agen. Charlie Faumuina and Carl Axtens joined him in the pack. Tom Murday scored a try for Agen, who had George Tilsley on the wing.

Tom Taylor kicked four goals for Pau, just back from the Brisbane Global Tens, in its 21-16 win at Brive. Colin Slade (15), Frank Halai, Jamie Mackintosh and Daniel Ramsay all saw action.

Malakai Fekitoa and Alby Mathewson played for Toulon in its 43-5 defeat of Stade Francais. Jarrad Hoeata’s Montpellier beat last-placed Oyonnax 43-30. Ben Botica kicked six goals for the eastern French club, while Quentin MacDonald and Hoani Tui were in the pack. Hika Elliot packed down at blindside flanker, having last played there in 2014 for Poverty Bay in the Heartland Championship on his way back from a neck injury.

In the Aviva Premiership, Thomas Waldrom, freshly signed by the Wellington Lions for the 2018 Mitre 10 Cup, was on the receiving end of Exeter’s 13-7 reverse to Wasps, for whom Jimmy Gopperth kicked two goals.

Saracens defeated Sale Sharks, who included Halani Aulika and Denny Solomona, 13-3.

Worcester’s resurgence, with Bryce Heem and Jackson Willison in jerseys 13 and 14, continues with a 25-15 victory over Gloucester, who fielded Motu Matu’u, John Afoa, Tom Marshall, Jason Woodward and Josh Hohneck.

A Sinoti Sinoti try helped Newcastle to a 29-12 defeat of Bath. The Falcons had Nili Latu in the pack and Tane Takalua off the bench. Former Manu Samoa prop Anthony Perenise scored a try for the vanquished, while James Wilson, Kahn Fotuali’i and Paul Grant also turned out for Bath.

Three goals off the tee and a dropped goal by Piers Francis were decisive in Northampton’s 25-17 win over London Irish. Teimana Harrison and Ahsee Tuala were alongside him. For the Exiles, James Marshall, Ben Franks, Filo Paulo and Asaeli Tikoirotuma all played.

Leicester’s Kiwi quartet of Telusa Veainu, Brendon O’Connor, Mike FitzGerald and Logovi’i Mulipola helped the Tigers to a 33-18 win over Harlequins, for whom Alofa Alofa scored a try from the wing, while Jono Kitto was in the No. 9 jersey.