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Video - Nabura red carded for flying kick to the face

Tevita Nabura was sent off for a wild kick as the Waratahs ended a 40-match losing streak for Australian sides over New Zealand franchises with a 41-12 thumping of the Highlanders, while the Crusaders and the Sunwolves also claimed Super Rugby wins on Saturday.

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Not since May 2016 had an Australian side got the better of a trans-Tasman rival, but the Waratahs ended that hoodoo with a six-try drubbing at Allianz Stadium.

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The hosts were eight points to the good following a Taqele Naiyaravoro score when Nabura was given his marching orders for a kung-fu style kick to the face of Cam Clarke as the wing caught a high ball.

Aaron Smith was sent to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-down two minutes later and Naiyaravoro evaded an attempted tackle from Waisake Naholo to dot down for a second time with the Highlanders down to 13 men, Bernard Foley converting to make it 15-0 at the break.

Israel Folau stole the show in the second half in Sydney, claiming a double of his own to reach the 50-try mark in his 83rd Super Rugby match – only Joe Roff and Christian Cullen achieved that tally in fewer games. 

Lalakai Foketi and Curtis Rona also went over for the rampant Waratahs, scores from Elliot Dixon and Ash Dixon providing little consolation for the 2015 champions.

Owen Franks was cited for striking James Parsons in a hard-fought 32-24 win for the Crusaders over the Blues.

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The defending champions have now won eight in a row to top the standings, but the struggling Blues put up a fight, Rieko Ioane bagging a brace in an entertaining contest.

They were unable to halt the Crusaders juggernaut, though, George Bridge, Quinten Strange, Matt Todd and Bryn Hall scoring in a clinical display, with Franks set to learn his fate on Sunday.

The Sunwolves followed up their rout of the Reds with a 26-23 triumph over the Stormers, Hayden Parker scoring the decisive drop-goal almost four minutes after the siren sounded in Hong Kong.

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J
JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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