Rugby: Kiwis aplenty in European action

Sitiveni Sivivatu in action for Castres. Photo / Getty Images

There is life yet in the soon-to-be 33-year-old legs of Sitiveni Sivivatu.

The former All Blacks wing scored two vital tries as his relegation-threatened Castres defeated Grenoble 16-12 away from home in French Top 14 action over the weekend.

Sivivatu joined Castres, the 2013 champions, from Clermont this season, and the club have won their last two matches to edge clear of Lyon, though they are still in 13th place.

There were three away wins and a draw in round 21 of the Top 14 - there are five rounds to play - and Toulouse's 34-all draw at Toulon featured six critical Luke McAlister goals from the first five. Hooker Corey Flynn copped a yellow card in a clash which saw no less than nine Kiwis take the field.

Anthony Tuitavake and Chris King's Montpellier crushed Lyon 45-17, for whom Stephen Brett and Lachie Munro shared four goals.

A try to former Waikato hooker Hikairo Forbes helped La Rochelle to a 22-21 victory over Jayden Spence's and Hugh Chalmers' Bordeaux-Begles. Likewise, Zak Taulafo, formerly of the Tasman Makos and Manu Samoa, scored in Stade Francais' 40-26 touch-up of Clermont.

In England's Aviva Premiership, the Northampton Saints continued on their merry way at the top of the log with a 52-30 victory over London Wasps, Ahsee Tuala scoring a brace and wing Ken Pisi also with a try. Wasps' No 8, former Auckland loosie Nathan Hughes, was sent off, while Piri Weepu, playing for his third European club in a matter of weeks, came off the bench for Wasps.

A try to former Highlanders prop Halani Aulika and a late penalty goal to Chris Noakes were central to London Irish's narrow 22-21 win over Newcastle. Sale Sharks, led by Daniel Braid, scored a 23-6 win over John Afoa's Gloucester. Centre Johnny Leota scored for Sale. No 8 Thomas Waldrom scored a try but it was to no avail as his Exeter Chiefs went down 25-18 to Leicester.

In the Guinness PRO12, a try to former Highlanders, Chiefs and Bay of Plenty centre Phil Burleigh helped Edinburgh edge Scarlets 26-15.

Three goals to Gareth Anscombe were not nearly enough to prevent Cardiff Blues going down 36-12 to second-placed Ulster.

Isaac Boss' two tries off the bench helped Leinster to a 34-all draw with competition leaders Glasgow.

Nick Crosswell's Dragons beat Treviso 32-17, while Connacht suffered a 42-20 reverse to Munster. Pat Lam has, however, signed Auckland opensider Nepia Fox-Matamua, another fine loose forward out of St Peter's College.