Rugby: Kiwis in Europe - Yellow fever for NZers

Benson Stanley in action for Clermont. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealanders copped three yellow cards in Europe's three main competitions over the weekend.

Second five Benson Stanley was binned in his Top 14 club Clermont's 22-19 win over fellow high flyers Toulon. Mike Delany came off the pine to kick six decisive goals in the win over the defending champions, who rested many of their big Kiwi guns.

La Rochelle blindside flanker Romana Graham was given 10 minutes in the cooler in the 18-all draw with Racing-Metro.

And in England's Aviva Premiership, centre Johnny Leota was carded in the 16-44 loss to Thomas Waldrom's Exeter Chiefs.

The French Top 14 still has one more regular season round this weekend, but the top six playoffs team are almost cemented.

Stade Francais is safe, having beaten Montpellier 35-21, for whom Anthony Tuitavake was at centre. Sitiveni Sivivatu's Castres lowered Andrew Mailei's Brive 32-12, and there was joy for Nigel Hunt, whose try helped Grenoble to a 32-11 win over Toulouse, who fielded three Kiwis in their tight five.

Bordeaux-Begles, who played Peter Saili at No 7, beat Joe Rokocoko's Bayonne 38-20 to move into the sixth playoff position. Oyonnax are in fifth after an Alaska Taufa try helped them defeat relegation-bound Lyon 22-14. Lachie Munro kicked a goal for the latter.

Brad Thorn's Leicester Tigers qualified for this weekend's semifinals after beating Northampton Saints 22-14, James Wilson kicking three goals from No 10 for the Saints, who rested some key personnel, including the Pisi brothers.

The Newcastle Falcons won just their fifth victory of 2015, Richard Mayhew's try helping them to a 37-21 result over Harlequins, for whom Nick Evans scored 16 points, including a try.

London Irish and Wasps had a 40-all stalemate, Chris Noakes scoring a try for the home side, while Auckland-born, former Manu Samoa wing Sailosi Tagicakibau scored a double for Wasps. Piri Weepu came off the bench for the west London club.

In the Guinness PRO 12, Wayne Pivac's Scarlets finished sixth after a 17-13 win at Treviso. Hadleigh Parkes was again at centre, while former Highlanders, Hurricanes and Force rep Jayden Hayward scored a try and kicked a goal for Treviso.

Three former Blues players featured in Cardiff Blues' 29-5 win over Zebre: Filo Paulo started at lock and prop Taufa'ao Filise and No 10 Gareth Anscombe came off the pine.
Pat Lam's Connacht placed seventh following a 24-20 loss to Ospreys. Isaac Boss' Leinster defeated Jade Te Rure's Edinburgh 36-23.

The semifinals this weekend will feature few, if any, New Zealanders.