Our players continue to do well in the French Top 14 matches this weekend. According to Planet Rugby, lock Leone Nakarawa scored twice for Racing 92 while Levani Botia’s try enabled La Rochelle to extend their lead on the points table.

Nakarawa double seal Racing’s win

Vodafone Flying Fijian lock forward Leone Nakarawa scored twice as Racing were able to squeeze past a revenant Brive side 33-25 at Stade Yves Du Manoir on Saturday. Racing scored the first points of the game when scrum-half James Hart kicked over a penalty in the eighth minute. The home side then consolidated their lead when second-rower Gerbrandt Grobler barged over the line. After Hart’s conversion Racing led 10-0, 15 minutes into the game.

Hart later scored another penalty putting his side further in the lead, but that only seemed to wake the sleeping Brive as just after inside centre and Fijian-born Sevanaia Galala crossed over to score and scrum-half Teddy Iribaren converted it.

The first half ended 13-8 to the hosts as they tenuously held onto the lead as Brive started to look a little more threatening.

Brive started the second half in an ideal fashion when replacement Karlen Asieshvili dotted down for his side in the 42nd minute with Nicolas Bezy converting it and taking the lead in the process. Racing didn’t enjoy being behind and responded minutes later with a try from Fiji international Nakarawa which Hart converted astutely. Brive then closed the gap once again when Bezy put another kick through the sticks. The Fijian the scored his second try of the match 15 minutes later. Brive then went down to 14 men when hooker Francois Da Ros was yellow carded.

Super sub Botia in top form

Vodafone Flying Fijian bustling centre, Levani Botia came in as a substitute and scored a try for La Rochelle in their 37-18 win over Stade Francais in the Top 14 competition yesterday. The win saw La Rochelle move five points clear at the Top 14 summit. It was their eleventh victory of the campaign while it was a tenth loss for the Paris side, who could be twelfth at the end of the weekend.

Stade Français with Fijian winger Waisea Nayacalevu began well and got on the board when Morné Steyn landed a penalty after La Rochelle’s Mohamed Boughanmi was pinged. But it didn’t take long for the hosts to find their rhythm as power runners created space on the fringes of the ruck for scrum-half Alexis Bales to exploit and he found number eight Victor Vito in support, who raced over from 20 metres to make it 7-3 with the simple conversion. Brock James then added to that kick with three penalties as the game reached 30 minutes, and at 16-3 the league leaders were cruising.

Crucially for Stade Français they responded with a try from number eight Jono Ross to make it 16-10, but with James landing his fourth penalty on the stroke of half-time it was a nine-point lead at the break. It was a deserved buffer for La Rochelle as they were on top.

Stade Français looked to change that upon the restart and did so when Nayacalevu finished well on the right wing, which made it 19-15, before Steyn missed the touchline extras. The crossing though was a reminder to La Rochelle that Stade were here to play.

But La Rochelle with Kini Murimurivalu at fullback along with lock Jone Qovu had the final say when replacement Botia bulldozed his way over to score.

Fijian duo help secure Pau’s win

Pau with Watisoni Votu and Jale Vatubua overcame a spirited Grenoble side 39-22 in a game marred by a slew of yellow cards at Stade du Hameau on Saturday.

It got off to a riveting start when Pau fly-half Colin Slade scored a penalty and kicked over a drop goal in the opening five minutes. Grenoble hit back quickly though when winger Armand Batlle scored a try just after.

Slade then kicked over another penalty moments later. Grenoble then nudged the gap a little closer as fly-half Jonathan Wisniewski slotted a penalty in the 27th minute making the score 12-8. Peter Kimlin of Grenoble didn’t help his side’s prospects when the flanker was given a yellow card in the 35th minute.

Pau extended their lead again after former Toulon star flanker Steffon Armitage scored a five pointer for his side in the 36th minute, accompanied by two more penalties from Slade. Grenoble kept themselves in the game though as Wisniewski kept the score board ticking.

Josua Tuisova try sparks Toulon

Big Fijian winger Josua Tuisova scored Toulon’s first try as they clinched a 31-17 win over Lyon.

Lyon opened the scoring through a Mike Harris penalty before Toulon responded through Matt Giteau’s boot. But the first try went to Lyon, Paul Bonnefond the scorer as the visitors took a 10-3 lead.

Toulon hit back with two quick tries, first through a penalty try and then thanks to Fiji international Tuisova to make it 17-10, as Giteau landed both conversions. Hosea Gear’s try however kept Lyon in the hunt, Harris tying it up at 17-17.

Toulon then lost Duane Vermeulen to a yellow card as the two teams stayed level at the break. Juan Smith’s try then sent Toulon back ahead at 24-17 before another former Springbok, Bryan Habana, clinched the victory.

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