Wallabies Abroad: Toulon duo star in drought-breaker

Mon, Nov 30, 2015, 1:00 AM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman

Wallabies duo Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell led a drought-breaking Toulon win, headlining Aussie performances overseas this week.

Mitchell scored a try in the dying stages to ice the side's first win away against Clermont Auvergne and put their Top 14 campaign back on track.

James O’Connor made a successful return from knee surgery, playing 50 minutes in the victory.

Former Wallabies captain Ben Mowen scored a 70th minute try for Montpellier in its 25-20 win over la Rochelle, one of four Aussies in the team coached by former Brumbies mentor Jake White.

Jesse Mogg played a full game on the wing, while halfback Nic White and former Queensland Reds back Ben Lucas were injected into the game off the bench.

Bordeaux thrashed Pau 46-10, with prop Sekope Kepu yet to make his debut at his new French side after being officially unveiled during the week.

Former Rebels prop Paul Alo-Emile came off the bench for Stade Francais in its 21-19 win over Grenoble on Monday morning (AEDT).

Scrumhalf Will Genia is yet to make his debut for Stade after a knee injury hampered his start at the club.

PRO12

Wallabies winger Taqele Naiyaravoro played his third game for Glasgow in the Pro12 featuring in a 13-6 win over Benetton Treviso.

Mark Chisholm’s Munster had a six-point loss to Connacht, keeping them in third spot, while former Rebels scrumhalf Luke Burgess started for Zebre in a 20-12 loss to Scarlets.

PREMIERSHIP

In England’s Premiership, James Horwill started for the Harlequins in an agonising one-point loss to Exeter on Sunday morning (AEDT).

The second vs third clash lived up to its billing, ultimately decided by a late penalty goal booted by the Chiefs’ Gareth Steenson.

Former Wallabies back Cooper Vuna was on the wrong end of a 48-18 loss in the Premiership, playing for Worcester against Saracens.

George Smith’s Wasps had another big win, though the Wallabies flanker was not named for the match.

Peter Betham continued his good form from the Champions Cup in the Premiership for Leicester, playing at outside centre in a 21-11 win over Bath, that put them in third spot overall.

JAPAN TOP LEAGUE

Ben McCalman scored a double in Panasonic Wild Knights’ 59-28 drubbing of the Ricoh Black Rams.

The Wallabies back rower crossed in the 11th and 50th minutes of the Knights’ win, in which Berrick Barnes started at flyhalf.

Bernard Foley booted four conversions on his Japanese debut as the Black Rams searched for their first win of the season.

The Wild Knights are still undefeated through three Top League rounds.

Number eight Scott Higginbotham found the line for the NEC Green Rockets against Yamaha, but they couldn’t clinch a win, going down 39-19.

Digby Ioane’s Honda Heat lost to Toshiba Brave Lupus 41-10, keeping them sixth in their pool.

Mark Gerrard played in the Toyota industries Shuttles loss to Toyota Verblitz but it was another Australian, Bryce Hegarty, who shone in the losing side.

The former Rebels back scored a try and booted three conversions for the Shuttles in the 24-point loss.

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