Rugby: Kiwis in Europe roundup

Joe Rokocoko may not be the player he was in 2003, but the former All Blacks wing is still capable of exerting an influence in his rugby.

The 32-year-old scored a vital try as his Racing-Metro club beat Grenoble 23-14 in the French Top 14 over the weekend. Blindside flanker Steven Setephano made his first start for Grenoble.

Yellow cards to former Crusaders wing Marika Vunibaka and former Highlanders prop Chris King did not prevent Pau from edging Corey Flynn's Toulouse 9-6 in a south-western derby.

Brive beat Api Naikatini's Agen 18-12, while Paul Williams turned out at second five for Stade Francais as the defending champs continued their fraught start to the season, going down 44-20 at Montpellier.

Clermont, with Hosea Gear at No 12, fought to a 26-all stalemate with Bordeaux-Begles, for whom Peter Saili played at openside flanker.

David Smith and Rudi Wulf's Castres defeated Oyonnax 35-26. Four Kiwis turned out for Oyonnax, including former Auckland centre Roimata Hansell-Pune, while former Bay of Plenty and Taranaki lock Leon Power came off the bench.

Jason Eaton's yellow card did not help La Rochelle as they lost 45-24 to Toulon.

The Top 14 now breaks until October 17 due to Rugby World Cup.

In the second round of the Guinness PRO12, a late try to former Auckland flanker Nepia Fox-Matamua was not enough for his Connacht club, as they went down 33-32 at Glasgow. Kiwis Hugh Blake and Grayson Hart both came off the bench for the home side.

Boris Stankovich's Dragons defeated Zebre 13-0.

Hadleigh Parkes illustrated his value to Scarlets, even on the wing, with a try in the 22-12 win over Nick Williams' Ulster.

Phil Burleigh scored a try in Edinburgh's 27-24 victory over Treviso, for whom fullback Jayden Hayward kicked five goals.

Leinster's Isa Nacewa is still proving his skillset is gold with five goals from fullback as his province edged Cardiff Blues 23-15.

Former New Zealand Under 20s, Crusaders and Canterbury No 10 Tyler Bleyendaal kicked three goals, while Francis Saili turned out in the No 13 jersey, as Munster beat Brendon Leonard's Ospreys 20-18.

The PRO12 breaks for three weeks for the start of Rugby World Cup.