Kiwis carving up the north: not the best weekend results-wise

The All Blacks arrived at Twickenham over the weekend and played a Barbarians side with 12 more Kiwis in it, so it’s fair to say the New Zealand influence in Europe right now is pretty high. However, for the guys already there, it was another weekend on the job.

Here’s some of the key performers:

Jamison Gibson-Park, Leinster

The former Blues halfback’s Leinster team didn’t have the best of days in their Pro14 clash with Glasgow, going down to the unbeaten Warriors 31-21 in a match that featured one of the tries of the season. However, Gibson-Park managed to do his best to stem the tide with a try of his own, six tackles and 29 metres run.

TJ Ioane, Sale

Another man to get on the scoresheet, this time in the first round of the Anglo-Welsh Cup. Ioane, originally from Wellington but better known for his career down with Otago and the Highlanders, bagged a try early on in the Sharks’ 24-21 win over Worcester and was prominent in an open game.

Malakai Fekitoa, Toulon

Only a few weeks out of New Zealand, but it’s probably a good time to check in with former Highlander and All Black Fekitoa, who had to endure a 26-24 Top 14 loss to Agen over the weekend. He put in a good shift, though, with 11 carries for 50 metres and 10 tackles. Inside him were two more former All Blacks, Ma’a Nonu and Luke McAlister – if the latter had a better day with the boot then Toulon might’ve ended up on the right side of the scoresheet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdx97vyxpjI

Quentin MacDonald, Oyonnax

The hooker from Tasman and the Crusaders had a big game for the Top 14 cellar-dwellers, but even his try couldn’t help a 32-19 loss to Castres Olympique. All the rest of Oyonnax’s points came from the boot of fellow Kiwi Ben Botica, while MacDonald found himself replaced by former Chief and All Black hooker Zika Elliott in the second half.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCVE_6NUtCU

Colin Slade, Section Paloise

Slade, a man best remembered for getting himself injured at the worst possible times for the Crusaders and All Blacks, is making a good fist of his time in France. He’s a regular feature in the Pau side, and his five penalties and eight tackles almost saw them upset Parisian glamour club Racing 92. They went down 23-20, but fellow former All Black Frank Halai managed to get a try for Pau.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xreJIFuM-0