Repeat offender: IT SEEMS Samoan centre Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu hasn’t learned his lesson about social networking websites and posting comments. The object of his latest tirade was Saracens’ young outhalf Owen Farrell and it has prompted an English RFU investigation.
Farrell set up a late try to tie the game and then kicked the sideline conversion as Saracens beat Fuimaono-Sapolu’s Gloucester side 19-17 recently. The Samoan ventured: “To young rugby players do not be arrogant. If you want to be tough on the field make sure you back it up off it. #farrell
“Love it when players talk big on the field in front of the camera. I like to see if they still talk big off the field when no cameras around. Raised in New Zealand and Samoa, I’ve never heard that s**t before ever. Good luck bro when you tour round my parts. What goes on the pitch stays on the pitch?? Don’t use the pitch to showcase your FAKE toughness you pussy s**t.”
London’s Evening Standard reported the comments were going to be investigated. “Saracens are aware of the comments. Premier Rugby have a code of conduct to deal with such issues and it is now a matter for them,” a Saracens spokesman told the newspaper.
The Standard said a RFU spokesman confirmed their disciplinary panel would be looking at Fuimaono-Sapolu’s comments.
Fuimaono-Sapolu found himself in hot water during the World Cup when he criticised via Twitter Welsh referee Nigel Owens and the IRB over what he claimed was bias against Samoa. A judiciary ruled Fuimaono-Sapolu’s sentence should be suspended for two years if the player apologised to Owens, completed a minimum of 100 hours rugby community work in Samoa in support of the IRB high performance programme within the next 12 months and attended and passed a recognised referee course within the next three months.
If Fuimaono-Sapolu fails to comply with the conditions or makes any public criticism that results in a proven misconduct offence regarding a match official, the IRB or the disciplinary process, his suspension will be activated immediately.
Mumps outbreak: But not for Montpellier's medical joker:MONTPELLIER, WHO host Leinster in the opening round of the Heineken Cup at the football stadium in the city Stade de la Mosson next Saturday, had the weekend off because their game against Lyon was called off because of a mumps issue for the latter club. Several fixtures were postponed due to the outbreak.
On a lighter note Montpellier’s most recent recruit Joseph Tuineau was probably one of the few New Zealand-based players who didn’t see the All Blacks win the World Cup Final against France. He was on a plane heading for Montpellier on the medical joker role that sees him replace Ailiki Fakate.
Tuineau boasts an interesting background. He was born in Suva, Fiji, grew up in Auckland, New Zealand but represented Tonga at rugby. He played American football at Southeast state university in Missouri and despite training with the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets and New York Giants secured a contract before returning to New Zealand in 2008 where he again embraced a rugby career.
Michalak on the move:FRÉDÉRIC MICHALAK wants to return to Europe in a bid to revive his international career. The 29-year-old left Toulouse for South Africa in May and played for the Natal Sharks in this year's Currie Cup, finishing as the tournament's highest points' scorer with 192. "I know they would like to extend my contract, but I want to come back to Europe next summer because I want to play with Les Bleus again and that is easier when you play in Europe," he told L'Equipe. The last of his 54 Tests was against Wales in the 2010 Six Nations.
Harlequins on a roll: Tough task awaits Connacht:
THE MAGNITUDE of the task facing Connacht in their first Heineken Cup match next weekend when they travel to The Stoop to take on Harlequins is exemplified by the fact the London club’s 26-13 victory away to Bath was their eighth straight victory in as many Premiership matches.
Conor O’Shea’s team sit proudly atop the league table and given they won the European Challenge Cup last season including beating Munster (at Thomond Park) and Stade Francais merely reinforces the gargantuan challenge that awaits Connacht. O’Shea admitted: “This is our eighth straight win on the road across last season and this season so it’s not bad, because we did struggle away from home. The win in Munster; you can’t say how much that meant to the players, and how we won against Stade in the final. We lost 10 games last season by less than seven points, so we knew we were a good side.”
Connacht travelled to Belfast last Saturday, losing 22-3. Ulster’s opponents next weekend at Ravenhill, Clermont Auvergne suffered a 37-16 thumping at the hands of the Michael Cheika-coached Stade Francais at the Stade de France. Leinster old boy Felipe Contepomi notched 17 points with a try, two penalties and three conversions while Jerome Fillol, Pascal Pape, Paul Williams and Francis Fainifo crossed for the hosts. David Skrela hit three penalties and converted Jean-Marcel Buttin’s try for Clermont.
Ulster have injury concerns with captain Joahnn Muller (arm), Tom Court (knee) and Stephen Ferris (ankle) all picking up injuries during the win over Connacht.
"You are only allowed to wear coloured boots if you've played over 50 times for the Ospreys or over 15 times for your country." – Ospreys head coach Seán Holley explains why young players must wear black boots.
