Latest news with #ManuTuilagi
France 24
2 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
Bayonne crush Clermont to set up Toulouse showdown in Top 14 semis
Returning to the knock-out stage of the French championship for the first time in 33 years, Bayonne mastered the wet conditions best to remain undefeated at home this season. Clermont, champions in 2010 and 2017, never got into the game which was played in stormy conditions with persistent rain preventing play from developing. The winner of the tie at a sold-out Stade Jean-Dauger will now face record 23-time champions Toulouse next Friday in Lyon. Bayonne's hopes of reaching the last four had been dealt a blow with former England centre Manu Tuilagi sidelined with a rib issue. But they were dominant throughout, with fly-half Joris Segonds scoring two penalties and a drop goal, his fourth of the season, in the first half. Clermont's Argentinian veteran Benjamin Urdapilleta, in his final professional appearance, accounted for their only points with a penalty for 9-3 after 27 minutes. Fly-half Camille Lopez came off the bench after 55 minutes for the hosts and proved decisive against his former team with his first kick setting up Tom Spring to finish behind the line (14-3). "We weren't up to the task in many areas," said Clermont manager Christophe Urios. "It's not a problem of adaptation, it's more a problem of attitude, behaviour, and solidity. "The best team won. My overwhelming feeling is one of bitterness." On Saturday, Toulon host Castres with a semi-final spot against Bordeaux-Begles at stake. The Top 14 final takes place on June 28 in Paris.
BBC News
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
The new Tuilagi? Sale's Ma'asi-White on following his idol
Premiership semi-final: Leicester Tigers v Sale SharksVenue: Mattioli Woods Welford Road Date: Saturday 7 June Kick-off: 15:30 BSTCoverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, BBC Radio Leicester and BBC Radio Manchester Before Saturday's Premiership semi-final between the two teams, Sale centre Rekeiti Ma'asi-White is keen to clear something true that as an 11-year-old, his uncle gave him a Leicester shirt. But to say he was a Tigers fan isn't quite a young Ma'asi-White was more interested in the number 12 on the back, than the badge on the front."I was a big fan of Manu," he says. "I only supported Leicester because of Manu really."He has the same kind of background – he is of Samoan descent, I am half Tongan-half English,"I aspired to be like him and achieve what did he did. I was in the forwards at that age. Thankfully I progressed!"It wasn't just Tuilagi. Former All Black midfielders Malakai Fekitoa and Ma'a Nonu were also Tuilagi was the example Ma'asi-White had seen closest father Viliami, who represented Tonga at 2003 Rugby World Cup, played with Manu's brother Anitelea at Leeds in the latter stages of his career. The two families bonded."Manu used to come round when we lived in Leeds for a little session together of food and stuff," says Ma'asi-White."I was quite young at the time, and didn't realise who everyone was, I didn't know how cool it was until I was a bit older." When Wasps went bust in 2022, Ma'asi-White and fellow academy prospect Asher Opoku-Fordjour were signed up by Sale. Tuilagi had left Leicester for the north west two years previously."He told me I used to look like a little rat!" remembers Ma'asi-White of their reunion and shared memories of backyard get-togethers more than a decade previously."I learned quite a bit from him though after that."Viliami is still his primary teacher played into his forties, Vili is now coaching, steering Oundle to the fourth tier this though is an impressive side in from his Peterborough home, Viliami will watch footage of every Sale training session. The morning before every game, Rekeiti gets a call with a checklist of things to focus on. After, he will get another, reviewing whether he has hit those targets."It is technical, mental, everything," says Ma'asi-White."He will say, 'there is still more in you, you are not running hard enough, you need to tackle harder.'"And I love that because it pushes me to become a better player." Ma'asi-White's improvement has been steep and 22-year-old, who started the season on loan at Championship side Caldy, only made his first start of the season for Sale in with thumping over the gainline against Toulon, he helped the Sharks to a 33-7 win and, with George Ford and Rob du Preez pulling the strings at 10 and 13, the 12 shirt has been his ever has scored in each of Sale's last four games, showing he can find holes, as well as break down was called into the England senior squad for the first time last his freight-train physicality and deceptively fleet feet do for Leicester on Saturday, comparisons with his old idol Tuilagi and the clamour for his inclusion in England's summer tour to Argentina will only grow. Opposite him at Welford Road will be a familiar face. He and Joe Woodward were England's under-20's centre partnership for a couple of years."He is a very good distributor, good link player, a ball carrier and he has got that kicking game too - a triple threat really," Ma'asi-White says of his former team-mate."I think we worked quite well together, we had some good times."Only one will be celebrating on Saturday and Leicester won at Welford Road last month, but Sale, 10 points up with half an hour to go, were left ruing indiscipline that let the hosts back into that game."There has been a lot of talk about us not being an 80-minutes team," says Ma'asi-White."We let them in the game in that second half so there is a big emphasis on discipline going into this weekend and to try and minimise that penalty count and use the scrum and line out to give us that advantage across the full game."If they do, a Premiership final awaits for for Ma'asi-White, the possibility of facing the Pumas with England will grow."Going down to Pennyhill Park for that two-day camp, it was exciting, to see all these big-time players was special," he says."I went with the idea that I would just give it everything. In the taxi home, I was just spent, I had no energy left."I have to take it step by step and do my best here, but going to Argentina is the plan - that is my target."So far this season, those have worked out just fine.
