THERE WERE THREE wins from four over the weekend for the Irish provinces in the Pro12, and some of our top international players put in promising performances.
Away from home, there was more encouragement for supporters of Irish rugby, with our lads in France having a decent weekend all round. Nine players in total took to the field in the Top 14 and Pro D2; here’s how they got on.
Top 14
Jonny Sexton played the full game as Racing Metro lost 19-15 away to Castres. The Lions outhalf kicked four penalties from four attempts, one of them from the right-hand touchline. Indeed, Sexton has yet to miss a kick at goal away from home for Racing and now stands at 12/12. His influence continues to grow every week, but Racing are down to sixth in the Top 14 table.
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Grenoble and their captain Andrew Farley were disappointed with a 12-12 draw at home to Brive, particularly as the visitors played 65 minutes of the game with 14 men after Thomas Sanchou’s red card. James Hart made his fifth appearance of the season off the bench, playing the last 15 minutes of the game as Grenoble desperately went after the winning score. They drop to ninth after the draw.
Oyonnax, winners of the Pro D2 last season, pulled off the shock of the weekend by beating Heineken Cup holders Toulon 25-22 at the Stade Charles Mathon. Former Leinster lock Damian Browne played the entire game, getting through a mountain of work as Oyonnax squeezed home thanks to a late drop goal from out-half Benjamín Urdapilleta. The Top 14 newcomers find themselves 11th in the league.
Pro D2
Agen enjoyed a 51-6 bonus point win over Narbonne, with Denis Fogarty starting at hooker. Relegated from the top flight last season, Agen have started life in the Pro D2 well and find themselves in second after five games. Fogarty looks to be pulling ahead of Moroccan international Jalil Narjissi in the battle for the number two jersey.
Aurillac, coached by Jeremy Davidson, recorded an excellent 25-23 win away to Carcassone on Saturday. Nigel Brady started at hooker, with former Munster man Brian Hayes in the second row. Conor Gaston, who has had spells with Ulster and London Irish, scored the match-winning try from the right wing, his first of the season. Aurillac, with one of the lowest budgets in the league, are now fifth.
Mont-de-Marsan had a 33-10 win at home to Auch on Saturday, with Mark Flanagan playing 68 minutes at lock. The ex-Leinster man has been rotated in and out of the squad as he continues to adapt to the demands of the league, but will he happy with how he has started life in the south-west of France.
