Nadolo: Playing Tuisova Is Never Easy
Vodafone Flying Fijians lock Leone Nakarawa and Virimi Vakatawa scored a try each for Racing 92 as they claimed their third win from four games in the Top 14. They had too much class against Oyonnax, prevailing 25-13.
It was the clash of giant Fijian wingers when Nemani Nadolo’s Montpellier took on Toulon who had Josua Tuisova who is dubbed ‘The Bus’. They both scored a try each but it was Montpellier who came out victorious 4320 at the Altrad Stadium.
Nadolo said it was never easy playing against the men from Toulon. “Happy to come away with the win and five points but playing against ‘The Bus’ is never easy,” he said.
Tries from Aaron Cruden, Nadolo, Paul Willemse, a penalty try, Joe Tomane and Frans Steyn saw them pick up a bonuspoint success.
In reply Toulon’s try-scorers were Tuisova and Chris Ashton as they suffer a second loss of the campaign, heading home with nothing.
Vodafone Flying Fijian utility back Timoci Nagusa also played at wing for Montpellier.
Montpellier led 17-10 at half-time thanks to crossings from Cruden and Nadolo, with Tuisova having given Toulon an early lead in the contest.
But from the hour mark on Montpellier displayed their quality by adding four more tries to hand Toulon a hefty defeat that leaves them seventh.
Nakarawa, Vakatawa score
Vodafone Flying Fijians lock Leone Nakarawa and Virimi Vakatawa scored a try each for Racing 92 as they claimed their third win from four games in the Top 14. They had too much class against Oyonnax, prevailing 25-13.
Racing led 22-3 at the break thanks to an impressive first-half performance that saw Nakarawa, Vakatawa and Marc Andreu cross. Dan Carter converted two of those scores and also added a penalty goal as the Paris side looked to follow up last week’s victory at Brive. Secondrow Nakarawa reached out to score on 12 minutes before Vakatawa and Brice Dulin combined to send the wing over on the right.
Racing weren’t done and went into the changing room with their third try in the bag, slick handling leading to Andreu scoring on the left.
Former Harlequins fly-half Ben Botica struck first in the second-half with his second penalty of the game to reduce the scoreline to 22-6.
And they further cut the gap on 54 minutes when a well-taken try from Quentin Etienne Lecoq pulled the visitors back to within nine points.
However Racing showed enough quality to see out the game and take the four points, with Maxime Machenaud’s penalty making it 25-13.
Murimurivalu’s try lifts La Rochelle
Vodafone Flying Fijian fullback Kini Murimurivalu scored a try for La Rochelle as they romped to a 20-15 win over Agen at Stade Armandie.
Agen fielded Josua Tuisova’s younger brother Filipo Nakosi while La Rochelle also had Jone Qovu as they withstood the challenge of an abrasive Agen outfit to seal a 20-15 victory and move into second place in the table.
Patrice Collazo’s men had issues with their discipline throughout but they were the more inventive with ball in hand and went 7-3 ahead via Steeve Barry’s try. Jake McIntyre had kicked the hosts into an early lead and, following Barry’s score, the stand-off then reduced the arrears with another effort off the tee after 13 minutes
Brock James restored the visitors’ fourpoint buffer but Philippe Sella’s team refused to fold and McIntyre kept them in contention. Murimurivalu’s try and James’ threepointer appeared to have broken Agen’s resistance, until Ignacio Mieres came on to score a two penalties. Although the home side failed to find the winning try, Sella’s men did manage to go away with the consolation of a losing bonus-point.
Votu continues to shine
Former Vodafone Fijian 7s forward Watisoni Votu touched down twice as Pau registered a second consecutive victory following a comfortable 28-13 triumph over Castres.
Simon Mannix’s men struggled in their opening two matches away to Toulon and Toulouse, but successive home games has seen them kick-start their campaign. Votu was well fed by centre Jale Vatubua. They were made to work for this result, however, after going into the break 13-6 behind. Tom Taylor and Benjamin Urdapilleta scored two penalties apiece as the sides ended the first half-hour level at 6-6, but Alex Tulou broke the deadlock just shy of the interval.
That only served to inspire the hosts as Taylor initially reduced the arrears before Votu crossed the whitewash twice in 10 second half minutes.
Castres were still in contention going into the final quarter but Pau ended the game as a contest when Baptiste Pesenti touched down.
Raka unstoppable
Fijian winger Alivereti Raka scored three tries for Clermont as they walloped Brive 62-6 at the Marcel Michelin.
The away side’s last visit to Clermont resulted in a shock 26-21 victory for the visitors, but those days seem a long time ago with Nicolas Godignon’s men struggling for form at the start of 2017/18.
In fairness to the basement-dwellers they created opportunities in the first half, two of which resulted in penalties for Thomas Laranjeira to convert, but Auvergne ultimately outclassed their opponents.
Tries for Damian Penaud and David Strettle enabled Franck Azema’s team to go into the interval 20-6 ahead. Penaud then added another at the start of the second period before Raka got in on the act, scoring a hat-trick after Sisa Koyamaibole had been sin-binned for Brive.
Koyamaibole returned as the visitors briefly stemmed the flow of tries but Camille Gerondeau and Patricio Fernandez touched down in the final quarter to complete a dominant win.
Brive also fielded Dominiko Waqaniburotu and winger Benito Masilevu while Peceli Yato excelled at openside flanker for Clermont.
Happy to come away with the win and five points but playing against ‘The Bus’ is never easy Nemani Nadolo