Rugby: Kiwis aiding Toulouse charge

Toulouse hooker Corey Flynn tackles fellow Kiwi Anthony Tuitavake. Photo / Getty

French club Toulouse have endured a challenging 2014-15 season, but the perennial heavyweights are rumbling into gear at just the right time.

Last weekend, with New Zealanders Corey Flynn and Neemia Tialata in their front-row, and with Manu Samoa internationals Joe Tekori and Census Johnston lending support, plus Luke McAlister off the pine, Toulouse won 21-12 in Paris against fellow playoff contenders Stade Francais. This pushes Toulouse up to third with three rounds to play of the Top 14 regular season.

Clermont, perhaps with one eye on a bigger prize this weekend, fell 31-10 to Castres, for whom wing Sitiveni Sivivatu scored a try against his old club. Clermont included Zac Guildford, Benson Stanley, Ti'i Paulo and Mike Delany in their 23.

Toulon too did not have their mind fully on the job either, losing 32-29 to Hikairo Forbes' and Jason Eaton's La Rochelle. Rudi Wulf turned out at No 13 and former Auckland wing David Smith at No 11 for Toulon.

Oyonnax, featuring prop Soane Tonga'uiha and No 8 Viliami Ma'afu, edged Casey Laulala's Racing-Metro 21-16. Bordeaux-Begles, with Peter Saili and Hugh Chalmers in the loose trio and Jayden Spence in the midfield, beat Lyon 37-22. Montpellier, with Anthony Tuitavake at centre and lock Tom Donnelly yellow-carded, lost 15-10 at Brive.

Joe Rokocoko scored a try in Bayonne's 42-33 win over Grenoble, who included two good Waikato men in Jackson Willison and No 8 Rory Grice.

With two rounds to play in the Guinness PRO12, the semifinalists are already sorted: Glasgow, Munster, Ulster and Ospreys. There are not so many Kiwis dotted through that quartet, but they are numerous in other teams.

Wayne Pivac's Scarlets, with Hadleigh Parkes at centre, beat Nick Crosswell's Dragons 29-10. Munster beat Treviso 30-19, No 8 Matt Laumanu scoring a try for the vanquished and fullback Jayden Hayward kicking two goals.

Cardiff Blues, with Gareth Anscombe nailing four goals, and with former Blues and North Harbour lock Filo Paulo in the engine room, were defeated 31-23 by Ospreys, while Jared Payne's Ulster beat Jimmy Gopperth's Leinster 26-10. Edinburgh, with Mike Coman at No 8, hammered Zebre 37-0.

In the Aviva Premiership, Northampton Saints are still flying high, edging out Saracens 25-20, with five New Zealanders in the 23. Former Steeler Ahsee Tuala played fullback.

Wasps are still in semifinal and European Champions Cup qualification contention after a 36-29 win over Exeter Chiefs, for whom Thomas Waldrom scored a try and copped a yellow card. Brad Thorn's Leicester beat London Welsh 38-17, and Nick Evans kicked two goals in Harlequins' 25-23 win over the Sale Sharks of Dan Braid and TJ Ioane. Chris Noakes landed three goals for London Irish in their 43-18 loss to Bath.

There will be Kiwis aplenty in the two European competition finals this weekend in London.

Gloucester faces Edinburgh in Friday's European Challenge Cup decider, while the next day two fine French clubs, Toulon and Clermont, clash swords in the European Champions Cup climax.