Written by AFP and Nathan Williamson on Oct 20, 2024 10:23 AM, courtesy of rugby.com.au Source article.
18-cap Wallabies hooker Jordan Uelese has opened his Top 14 account with Montpellier in a 30-17 defeat to Toulon. Photo: Getty Images
18-cap Wallabies hooker Jordan Uelese has opened his Top 14 account with Montpellier in a 30-17 defeat to Toulon.
Uelese crossed in a back-and-forth second half that saw the second placed Toulon run away with the game.
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Montpellier surprised the hosts early with a try to young winger Maël Moustin before Los Pumas star Facundo Isa put Toulon in front after the break.
They scored 17 unanswered points as Uelese’s try from close gave Montpellier some late hope.
In the end, Fijian winger Jiuta Wainiqolo sealed the win with a spectacular solo effort from halfway, picking up the loose ball and beating half a dozen players to score.
In other games, fellow Fijian Sireli Maqala continued his strong season by scoring his sixth try of the season as Bayonne beat Racing 92 32-15 at home.
Maqala’s second-half effort places him at the summit of the scoring charts for the season as the Basques sit seventh in the table.
They were denied an attacking bonus point, however, as Racing scored twice in the final 15 minutes.
“The end of the second half is annoying,” Bayonne back-rower Baptiste Heguy told reporters.
“We know every point is important, and there we let one go far too easily.”
Bayonne led 13-3 at the break as veteran Argentina hooker Facundo Bosch scored a try and fly-half Joris Segonds slotted a conversion and two penalties.
The hosts’ only score of the first half was a Nolann Le Garrec penalty, with the scrum-half expected to be named in France’s November Tests squad next week.
Maqala’s contribution came after 45 minutes as he stretched to dot down before Argentina winger Mateo Carreras and Bosch’s replacement Lucas Martin put the home side 32-3 up with a quarter of an hour to play.
The only negative for Maqala’s outfit was their inability to hold onto the attacking bonus point.
The 24-year-old Maqala’s good form is also good news for Fiji before they face Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Spain in November.
Another Fijian in Adrea Cocagi, who unlike Maqala and Wainiqolo has been omitted from their November Tests squad, was sent off for a high elbow as Castres eased past struggling Stade Francais 35-13.
Italy’s Tommaso Allan kicked 19 points as Perpignan held on to edge Lyon 29-26, days after the Azzurri announced the fly-half would return to the squad next month after missing games this season due to family reasons.
In the final game of the day, France captain Antoine Dupont provided two assists as record 23-time winners Toulouse beat Pau 22-14 to move top of the table.
