Three of our rugby players playing in the French Top 14 were shown the yellow cards in Saturday’s matches.

Former Vodafone Fijian 7s forwards Semi Kunatani now playing for Toulouse and Racing 92s lock forward Leone Nakarawa copped yellow cards. But in another incident La Rochelle strongman Levani  Botia was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Josua Tuisova.

Botia, Tuisova clash

La Rochelle provisionally moved to the top of the Top 14 table after claiming a narrow 23-20 win over Toulon at Stade Félix Mayol on Saturday.

The early exchanges were tense and after Zack Holmes opened the scoring via a 14th minute penalty, the visitors were dealt a blow when Levani Botia was yellow-carded for a high tackle on Josua Tuisova.

An injury time penalty from Brock James secured victory for the visitors in a tightly contested match in which both two teams crossed for two tries with Vincent Rattez scoring both La Rochelle’s five-pointers.

But despite that setback, La Rochelle scored the opening try midway through the half when Rattez pounced on an error from Jonathan Pélissié – who failed to deal with a teasing grubber kick from Kini Murimurivalu – before crossing the whitewash. Also playing for La Rochelle was big lock forward Jone Qovu.

Nayacalevu try fails to lift club

Vodafone Flying Fijian centre Waisea Nayacalevu scored a try but it was not enough as his Stade Francais club suffered a 44-22 loss to Grenoble. The hosts picked up an important win that gives their chances of survival a boost.

They came from behind to lead 16-15 at half-time which was impressive due to the fact they leaked two tries inside seven minutes. Wings Julien Arias and Jérémy Sinzelle got the ball rolling for Stade Français, with Jules Plisson converting one of those tries for 12-0.

Grenoble managed to get a foothold in the match thanks to two Jonathan Wisniewski penalties before Plisson hit back, making it 15-6. But the Top 14 strugglers would go into the dressing rooms ahead thanks to hooker Arnaud Heguy’s converted try and another penalty. Grenoble seemed full of confidence upon their return and two more penalties from fly-half Wisniewski pushed them further ahead at 22-15.

They weren’t finished as their second try arrived on 55 minutes from centre Fabrice Estebanez, with a Wisniewski penalty goal making it 30-15 before Xavier Mignot crossed as Grenoble continued to pull away from their visitors, who had yet to trouble the scorers in the second-half. Chris Farrell added Grenoble’s fourth try on 77 minutes but it would be Stade Français who had the final say, with outside centre Nayacalevu’s try papering over a poor 40 minutes from the Paris side.

Kunatani cops yellow card

Tough Fijian duo Semi Kunatani copped a yellow card as his club Toulouse suffered a 20-10 loss to Pau at Stade Ernest Wallon yesterday.

Pau with Fijian winger Watisoni Votu and Mosese Ratuvou kept their play-off hopes alive with the win.

The visitors got the rub of the green during the early stages and held a 17-7 lead at half-time thanks to tries from Thomas Bianchin and Julien Fumat. Paul Perez crossed for Toulouse’s only try during this period.

Pau made a superb start when Bianchin crossed for the opening try in the third minute but suffered a setback when Ben Mowen was yellow carded for a cynical foul at a ruck inside his 22 in the 13th minute. Toulouse made their numerical advantage count when Perez dotted down in the 21st minute but Pau struck back shortly afterwards when Fumat crossed the whitewash.

Colin Slade kicked both conversions and added a penalty on the stroke of half-time which gave his side a 10-point lead at the interval.

The second half was a close affair and a Toby Flood penalty shortly after the break gave the hosts some hope but a place-kick from Slade – after Kunatani was sent to the sin bin – sealed Pau’s win in the 78th minute.

Nadolo keep on scoring tries

Big Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo scored another try for Montpellier as they were beaten 38-25 by Castres on Saturday. Castres consolidated their position in the top six after the win.

It was a fine start from Castres as scrum-half Antoine Dupont crossed just a minute into the clash for a try, converted by Julien Dumora.

Demetri Catrakilis landed a penalty on five minutes and when in-form winger Nadolo scored it was 8-7 to Montpellier on 14 minutes.

There was then a response off the tee from fly-half Dumora as he struck two penalties to move Castres back in front at 13-8 to the good. Montepellier’s other winger was former Flying Fijian speedster Timoci Nagusa.

Nalaga helps Lyon secure win

Lyon with burly Fijian winger Napolioni Nalaga claimed a crucial 37-25 win over Racing 92 as they did their hopes of top flight survival a power of good at Matmut Stadium on Saturday. Adding to Racing 92’s woes was when lanky lock Leone Nakarawa was shown the yellow card.

Racing 92 hit the front early thanks to a try from wing Teddy Thomas on four minutes but Lyon soon hit back via number eight Carl Fearns. At 7-7 it was then a kicking battle as Dan Carter and Frédéric Michalak landed a penalty apiece before Carter made it 13-10 on 27 minutes.

Michalak levelled matters soon after but it was Racing 92 who went in ahead thanks to James Hart and Benjamin Dambielle’s penalties. Replacement scrum-half Hart added to Racing 92’s lead with his second penalty of the game on 45 minutes that made it 22-13 to them.

Lyon knew the next score would be crucial and they got it eight minutes later when Michalak cut the arrears to six points off the kicking tee.

That got the home crowd believing and when Racing second-row Leone Nakarawa was sin-binned, Lyon sensed an opportunity and took it as Fearns crossed for his second try, converted by Michalak, which pushed them 23-22 in front and set up a mouth-watering final 20 minutes.

Edited by Osea Bola

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