Fijian rugby players continue to impress at the Top 14 rugby competition in France. It has been another torrid weekend as they battled it out in another round of competition.

Nakaitaci scores in

Clermont win

Fijian-born winger Noa Nakaitaci scored a try as Clermont consolidated their position at the top of the Top 14 standings after securing a deserved 40-16 win over Brive at Stade Amédée Domenech.

Brive fielded Vodafone Flying Fijian winger Benito Masilevu, Sevanaia Galala, Seremaia Burotu and late sub Dominiko Waqaniburotu. Les Jaunards dominated from the outset and outscored their hosts by four tries to one with fly-half Patricio Fernandez the visitors’ hero after contributing 30 points to his side’s cause courtesy to a brace of tries, four penalties and four conversions. Three of the visitors’ tries were scored during the first half which set up a commanding 27-9 lead at the break.

Talebula sees yellow as UBB go down  

Former Vodafone Fijian 7s playmaker Metuisela Talebula copped a yellow card for a deliberate knock on close to his try line as his Bordeaux-Begles went down 33-27 to Castres at Stade Pierre Antoine yesterday.

The home side came into this match on the back of an impressive victory over Northampton Saints in the European Champions Cup last weekend and they raced into a 13-0 lead in this clash, and even led 20-7 midway through the opening half, before the visitors fought back to trail 23-17 at half-time. Both sides scored three tries apiece but it was the boot of Castres fly-half Benjamin Urdapilleta which secured the win for the hosts as he finished with an 18-point haul courtesy of four penalties and three conversions.

Votu’s try fails to lift Pau

Flamboyant Fijian forward cum winger Semi Kunatani came in as a substitute for Toulouse as they edged out Pau 24-20 at Stade du Hameau. Pau fielded Fijian winger Watisoni Votu who scored a try as he combined well with second five eight Jale Vatubua, centre Conrad Smith and Colin Slade.

The visitors were leading for the first 28 minutes thanks to Jean-Marc Doussain’s boot but when Daniel Ramsay crossed, Pau went ahead. Pau fullback Tom Taylor converted his lock’s try to make it 9-10, but Toulouse hit back before the break via a Doussain drop-goal and then hooker Julien Marchand crossed a minute before half-time to push the visitors into a healthy 17-10 advantage going into the dressing rooms.

Pau crucially struck first after the interval when Votu went over, with Taylor’s extras levelling matters at Stade du Hameau.

Nayacalevu’s stars in club win

Former Vodafone Flying Fijian centre Waisea Nayacalevu opened the scoring for Stade Francaise as they beat Lyon 25-19 at the Stade Jean Bouin in Paris. They took an early 7-0 lead as Wallabies star halfback Will Genia also took the field for the club. Penalties from Delon Armitage and Mike Harris brought Lyon within four.

Two penalties from Morne Steyn gave Stade a bit of a cushion but Baptiste Couilloud scored a try for a slight 16-13 deficit at half time. Steyn and Jules Plisson added four penalties between them in the second half, countered by two from Harris but it wasn’t enough to overhaul Stade Francais.

Nadolo, Qera help

Montpellier win

Fijian duo Nemani Nadolo and Akapusi Qera played for Montpellier as they pipped La Rochelle 12-11 at the Altrad Stadium.

La Rochelle drew first blood when New Zealand born player Uini Atonio crashed over for his side. The try remained unconverted but was enough to get the visitors off to a good start.

The hosts struck back quickly though after a penalty in the tenth minute from former Springbok Frans Steyn. Steyn then put his side into the lead with another penalty in the 19th minute.

Montpellier’s lead was short lived though as La Rochelle who had Fijians Levani Botia, Kini Murimurivalu and Jone Qovu then scored a penalty of their own through fly-half Brock James. The half ended 11-9 to the visitors, yet fairly dull first half.

The second half was another hotly contested half with neither side scoring any points in the second half, with La Rochelle displaying a tight defensive effort to keep their away lead.

Nakarawa’s Racing 92 too good for Bayonne

Juan Imhoff scored the only try of the game late in the second half to seal a 16-3 victory for Racing 92 over Bayonne on Saturday.

The hosts fielded veteran Fijian centre Gabiriele Lovobalavu while Racing 92 had Leone Nakarawa, Joe Rokocoko and replacement centre Albert Vulivuli.

The first points of the match came in the 26th minute when Willie duPlessis slotted a penalty for the home side to get the game going. Unfortunately for Bayonne it was the only points they managed throughout the entire game.

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