Wallabies abroad: Beale stars, Barba debuts

Mon, Mar 6, 2017, 12:42 AM
Sam Phillips
by Sam Phillips
Kurtley Beale starred for Wasps at the weekend. Photo: AFP
Kurtley Beale starred for Wasps at the weekend. Photo: AFP

Kurtley Beale has played his best game yet for Wasps, scoring a double and guiding his team to a convincing 24-3 win against Bath at the weekend.

The 28-year-old has been in superb form for since sitting out for seven months with a knee injury and was instrumental in keeping Wasps atop the Aviva Premiership with the big win at The Rec - with the team now having lost just one of their last nine starts.

Wasps director of rugby Dai Young is expecting to hear whether Beale wishes to stay at the club or return to Australia in the next week.

With man of the match performances like that, it's easy to see why Young is keen to hang on to his prized recruit.Ben Tapuai in action for Bath against Wasps. Photo: Getty ImagesBen Tapuai was solid in the centres for Bath - notching 41 metres from eight carries and making seven tackles.

Across the border at Toulon, Ben Barba made his debut for the French giant with a five minute cameo off the bench.

Barba lined up in the backs alongside fellow Aussie Drew Mitchell, though the pair were not able to aid Toulon's cause in the 15-5 defeat to Brive.

In a slightly ironic twist, Barba was handed his debut as a result of James O'Connor's suspension for his latest misdemeanour in a career filled by off field drama.

Despite the loss, Mitchell and Barba looked in good spirits post match.

 

Welcome @benny13arbz to the Rugby Family!!

A post shared by Drew Mitchell (@drew_mitchell) on

Elsewhere in France, Sitaleki Timani's Clermont side could not overcome Castres, falling 26-16.

Peter Kimlin's Grenoble fared better, edging Racing 92 19-10 in a much needed win for the 13th placed outfit.

Mike Harris kicked Lyon to a 16-3 upset over a Montpellier side which featured former Brumbies trio Nic White, Joe Tomane and Jesse Mogg.Will Genia's Stade Francais were too good for Bordeaux at the weekend. Photo: AFPWill Genia's Stade Francais thumped Adam Ashley-Cooper's Bordeaux 32-9, as the home side ran in three tries in eight minutes to blow the visitors away in the first 20 minutes.

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