Kiwis in Europe roundup

The French Top 14 ploughs on relentlessly, despite the autumn international window, almost like the metronomic boot of Tom Taylor. Photo / Getty Images.

The French Top 14 ploughs on relentlessly, despite the autumn international window, almost like the metronomic boot of Tom Taylor.

The former All Black is plying his trade at Pau, where he has already appeared in three different positions and has assumed the goalkicking from old Crusaders teammate Colin Slade.

Taylor, at No 10, kicked six goals to help his club to a 26-17 over champions Racing-Metro in a clash that featured no less than 11 players of New Zealand origin.

Alongside Taylor in the Pau starting line-up were Conrad Smith and Jamie Mackintosh, while off the bench came Chris King, Daniel Ramsay, Slade and former Tongan rep and Blues No 9 Taniela Moa, back in Pau colours after a long hiatus.

Chris Masoe scored a try off the bench for the Parisians, while Ali Williams was yellow-carded. Casey Laulala and Joe Rokocoko started in the Racing backline.

Jason Eaton, Romana Graham and Victor Vito celebrated as La Rochelle downed Toulouse, who fielded Carl Axtens, Joe Tekori and Luke McAlister, 25-19.

Simon Hickey kicked three goals for Bordeaux-Begles in their narrow 24-22 victory over Grenoble. Loose forwards Luke Braid, Hugh Chalmers and Joe Edwards all took the field for the victors, while Grenoble fielded Rory Grice, Nigel Hunt and Steven Setephano.

A try to lock Taisina Tuifua could not prevent Lyon, with Mike Harris, Josh Bekhuis, Ti'i Paulo and Toby Arnold also in the ranks, from losing 25-20 at Montpellier.

David Smith's Castres beat Brive 32-13. Bottom-placed Bayonne, with Tom Donnelly at lock, tipped over leaders Clermont. Benson Stanley scored a try off the bench, while Hosea Gear entered the fray off the pine for Les Jaunards.

Ma'a Nonu's Toulon, in a game that has just finished, defeated Aled de Malmanche's Stade Francais 31-12. Nonu scored a second half try.

Several New Zealanders were rested from the weekend's Anglo-Welsh Cup fixtures.
Jack Umaga, however, scored two tries off the bench for Wasps in their big 62-10 victory over Worcester, while Samu Vunisa's Saracens, missing Sean Maitland on Scotland duty, beat Newcastle Falcons 29-18. Winston Stanley and George Naoupu featured in Harlequins' 15-12 win over Ospreys, Quins' tune-up for Thursday morning's clash with the Maori All Blacks.

Dan Bowden's Bath crashed 44-21 to Scarlets, promoting Bath director of rugby Todd Blackadder to tell media his side "are much better than that."

Halfback Jono Kitto was a replacement in Leicester Tigers' 42-3 thrashing of the Dragons.
Northampton Saints, with James Wilson and Michael Paterson in the mix, edged Joe Latta's Gloucester 19-13, while Mark Sorenson's Bristol saw off Sale Sharks 26-11.

Prop Halani Aulika scored a try for the Sharks, while Johnny Leota, TJ Ioane and Sam Tuitupou all turned out for the vanquished.