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Wasps get Challenge Cup campaign up and running
By Online Editors
Wasps got their European Challenge Cup campaign up and running with a 32-14 win over Agen at the Ricoh Arena. The home side, beaten away in their Pool 3 opener to Bordeaux Begles last weekend, had trailed to a converted try from Loris Tolot.
Ashley Johnson, though, went over from a maul before Jacob Umaga’s kicking extended the lead to 13-7 at the break. Further tries from Tommy Taylor and Johnson put Wasps in command, with Malakai Fekitoa crossing to secure the bonus point. Fernandez Correa added a late consolation for the hosts.
London Irish ran in seven tries to beat Bayonne 45-31 in their Pool 2 match at the Madejski Stadium. The Exiles, beaten 20-16 against Scarlets last time out, scored five tries in the first half – during which the French club also crossed four times to go into the break at 31-24.
Converted tries for Saia Fainga’a and Ben Meehan gave the hosts some breathing space. A late score for former Harlequins number eight Mat Luamanu, his second of the match, secured Bayonne a bonus point.
Stand-off Paddy Jackson completed five conversions, including one from his own try after 25 minutes, to finish with a personal haul of 14 points.
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Saturday’s early kick-off in Pool 1 saw Worcester Warriors beaten 17-9 away at Castres. Duncan Weir kicked three penalties for the visitors, however first-half tries for winger Filipo Nakosi and flanker Baptiste Delaporte proved enough for the French side.
Elsewhere, in Pool 4, Stade Francais picked up a much-needed 13-12 win at Zebre. The Paris club – bottom of the Top 14 and having seen coach Heyneke Meyer depart – scored a converted try from Gael Fickou, with Nicolas Sanchez adding two penalties. The Italians, though, made a late fight back with a penalty try setting up a tense finale.
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It has taken 15 years to build the participation of rugby both in playing and watching. For South Africa on its own to build a viable international rugby competition in africa will take generations - not decades. New Zealanders seem to resent the fact that SA has doubled the income of the URC since their inclusion. If New Zealand Rugby hadn't insisted on have a disproportionate slice of the pie in Super Rugby, SA might not have fled the coop.
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