Kerr-Barlow breaks French try duck to put La Rochelle back on top
Former All Black Tawera KerrBarlow scored his first try in French rugby to put La Rochelle back at the head of the Top 14 table.
The 26-year-old, who moved to the Atlantic coast club from the Chiefs after the All Blacks’ November northern hemisphere tour, made the most of his chance to start against CA Brive in La Rochelle on Saturday (Sunday NZ time).
Kerr-Barlow played a key role in La Rochelle’s 33-24 win, scoring in the 17th minute after he spotted a gap in Brive’s defensive line to scamper over from a ruck 5m from the try-line.
Former All Blacks lock Jason Eaton played on the blindside for La Rochelle, and the skipper celebrated with a decisive try after the re-start when he latched onto a clever tactical kick from English first five-eighth Ryan Lamb.
Brive fullback Benjamin Lapeyre, who played for La Rochelle two seasons ago, grabbed a double against his former club and Fijian international Benito Masilevu also got on the score sheet.
La Rochelle, who led 18-10 at halftime, lead the competition by three points from Vern Cotter’s Montpellier, who play champions Clermont Auvergne on Sunday (Monday NZ time).
Ma’a Nonu helped Toulon to a 36-12 win over Bordeaux Begles with rugby league convert Semi Radradra scoring twice.
Former All Blacks prop Charlie Faumuina started in the front row as Toulouse had a comfortable 37-15 win over bottom team Oyonnax, who had Faumuina’s former Blues teammate Quentin MacDonald at hooker.
The match was marred by red cards to Oyonnax’s Kiwi No 8 Rory Grice and Toulouse’s former French test lock Yoann Maestri.
The pair were sent off for foul play in the 60th minute, a Planet Rugby report said.
Grice, a former New Zealand under-20 representative who played for Waikato, signed a twoyear contract with Oyonnax this season after three years at relegated club Grenoble.
Former North Harbour first five-eighth Ben Botica kicked five points for Oyonnax.
Lyon thrashed Agen 71-17 after a hat-trick of tries by 20-year-old halfback Baptiste Couilloud.