With majority of our key players with the Vodafone Flying Fijians, preparing for the end of the year tour, a few veterans and newcomers played in the French Top 14 competition last weekend.

Koyamaibole scores in Brive big win

Veteran Fijian No.8 Sisa Koyamaibole scored a try for Brive as they romped to a 26-9 win over Bayonne at the Stade Amedee Domenech yesterday. Brive were full value for their home victory thanks to the boot of Gaetan Germain. He kicked 16 points– four penalties and two conversions– to supplement tries by Guillaume Namy and Koyamaibole.

Bayonne who had veteran Fijian centre Gabirieli Lovobalavu could only reply with three penalties from Manu Saubusse. Brive also fielded blindside flanker Dominika Waqaniburotu and tough Fijian inside centre Seremaia Burotu.

Nayacalevu try fails to lift club

Vodafone Flying Fijian winger Waisea Nayacalevu played for Stade Francais and scored a try but it was not enough to beat Bordeaux-Begles yesterday.

Bordeaux-Bègles who also fielded Metuisela Talebula late in the match kept the pressure on the Top 14 pace-setters as they picked up a 37-19 victory at Stade Chaban Delmas.

Stade Français hit the front on eight minutes when fly-half Hugo Bonneval crossed for a try that was converted by full-back Paul Williams. Simon Hickey closed the gap to four points with a penalty three minutes later and then his second three-pointer on 16 minutes made it 6-7. \

Bordeaux-Bègles continued their recovery with a crossing from flank Hugh Chalmers nudging them in front at 13-7 with Hickey’s conversion. UBB were now on a roll, adding tries two and three before the break, from hooker Clement Maynadier and centre Julien Rey, to make it 27-7. Whatever was said at half-time clearly lifted Stade as early tries from Jeremy Sinzelle and  Nayacalevu cut the gap to eight points.

Close call for Kunatani’s Toulouse

Vodafone Fijian 7s forward Semi Kunatani played at wing for Toulouse as they beat Castres 16-15 at the Stade Ernest Wallon yesterday. Samuel Marques kicked a 78th minute penalty to hand Toulouse a dramatic one-point victory.

Castres had the better of the first half, mainly due to the boot of Rory Kockott, who kicked three penalties in the first 40 to give his side a 12-3 lead at the break. Toulouse could only reply with a penalty from Marques.

Toulouse fought back well in the second half. They started with another penalty from marques before Leonardo Ghiraldini went over for a five-pointer which, together with the conversion from Marques, gave the home side the lead for the first time in the match.

Raka helps Clermont to victory

Fijian winger Alifereti Raka put on a sterling performance as Clermont pipped Grenoble 21-20 yesterday. He was involved in the two tries in the first half from Morgan Parra and Otar Giorgadze gave Clermont a 15-7 lead at the break, Grenoble who had former Fijian-born NRL winger Sisa Waqa replied with a try from Gio Aplon which Jonathan Wisniewski converted.

Wisniewski added two penalties in the first 10 minutes after half time to bring his team within two points, before Camille Lopez slotted a penalty to make it 18-13.

But Grenoble hit right back with another try, this time through Alexandre Dardet and after Wisniewski added the extras, the visitors had a slight 20-18 lead. In the end, Patricio Fernandez kicked a penalty in the 68th minute which gave Clermont back the lead and ultimately the game.

Nagusa returns to Montpellier

Albert Vulivuli and Joe Rokocoko helped Racing 92 beat Montpellier 21-9 at the Stade Yves du Manoir, Colombes yesterday.

Two tries in five minutes gave Racing a hard fought victory.

The scored were locked at 9-9 after 62 minutes with Ben Botica and Johan Goosen exchanging penalties throughout the game.

But two tries in the final 10 minutes, five minutes apart, sealed the win after Henry Chavancy and Xavier Chauveau touched down. Montpellier did not field Nemani Nadolo and Akapusi Qera as they are with the Vodafone Flying Fijians but instead, they fielded veteran Timoci Nagusa.

Fijian 3 help La Rochelle win

Fijian trio Levani Botia, Kini Murimurivalu and Jone Qovu helped La Rochelle claim an important 27-6 bonus point victory over Pau at Stade Marcel-Deflandre yesterday.

The win sees the home side jump to second place with 30 points but are still way behind first placed Clermont who have 36 points. Pau claim nothing from the game and stay at 12th spot with 17 points on the points table.

The home side drew first blood when tight-head prop Mohamed Boughanmi barged over for his side which outside centre Zack Holmes converted promptly.

La Rochelle then compounded their lead when they scored a penalty in 31st minute. Pau with Fijian centre Jale Vatubua and Watisoni Votu finally got onto the score board moments after as Taylor kicked a penalty for his side making the score line 10 to three.

In the second half Pau clawed their way back into the game with a penalty which was immediately nullified by a try from La Rochelle replacement Jeremie Maurouard.

Nalaga stars in Lyon upset win

Big Nadroga winger Napolioni Nalaga scored a try for Lyon in their 27-13 upset win over Toulou at Matmut Stadium yesterday.  It’s an uplifting win for Lyon who have only won three games all season before this. The win sees them leap frog Stade Français from 11th to 10th.

Lyon started off the scoring with two penalties early on in the first half, one through full-back Delon Armitage and another through Michalak.

Toulon hit back through a penalty of their own after Bernard slotted three-pointer to close in on Lyon’s early lead.

It didn’t work though as the rest of the half belonged to Lyon, barring a solitary Toulon penalty, as Lyon hooker Mickael Ivaldi scored a try for his side while the trusty boot of Michalak kept the score board ticking over.

Toulon didn’t end the half well either as second-row Jocelino Suta was given a yellow card on the 40th minute, resigning his side to tough beginning to the second stanza.

Lyon then scored their second five-pointer of the game when wing Nalaga scored a try to compound his side’s lead.

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