Mon 27 Oct 2014 | 09:18
Metuisela Talebula brilliant finish to 90m try in London Welsh thrashing

6
Comments

Fijian flyer Metuisela Talebula has been making his mark in the Top 14 this season with some sensational performances for Bordeaux, and on Thursday night he continued that fine form against London Welsh in the European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Talebula was actually the top try scorer in the French Top 14 last season, so the former Fiji Sevens star knows his way to the tryline, and given a sniff, usually finishes with aplomb.

Bordeaux-Begles recently played some beautiful rugby to thrash Castres 59-7, so they're in with a real shout this year and their 52-20 win away at the Kassam goes some way to confirm that.

They scored four first half tries, with Lucas Blanc, Talebula, Clement Maynadier and Matthew Clarkin all scoring to give them an imposing 31-6 lead at the half time break.

"There are no margins at the top of the Aviva Premiership or the Top 14. You have got no room and once you make a mistake you are toast basically," said London Welsh head coach Justin Burnell.

By the end of the match they'd scored seven in total, with Pierre Bernard adding to his points with the boot, and Darly Domvo scoring twice, thanks also to Talebula.

The latter's finish to his first half try was outstanding, as Bordeaux counter-attacked from a turnover deep in their half, before he sprinted away then put the ball on the boot twice and collected to dot down in the corner in one motion.

It was supreme control and another example of the kind of talent Fijian rugby regularly produces.

6 Comments

  • 10stonenumber10
    8:14 PM 28/10/2014

    He is a winger... can't expect too much grit or toughness. Speaking as a former back 3, 80 minutes a game on the tramlines watching the rest tackle is quite alienating. We had no wage to earn, but the post match pint to numb the pain of defending the 10 channel tastes better than the finest of Champagne, feels a little empty if your shirt stayed clean the whole game.

  • reality
    7:43 PM 28/10/2014

    Well, more and more, that could actually be applied to rugby as well. Unfortunately the days of being able to ridicule soccer for diving are coming to an end. Thank you Bryan Habana.

  • 10stonenumber10
    9:53 AM 28/10/2014

    Footballers take note: Scoring a try is the only situation where diving is acceptable on a field. Unless you play cricket.

  • drg
    8:00 AM 28/10/2014

    Awesome multiple effort to begin with and great finish.

  • stroudos
    3:18 PM 27/10/2014

    The kicks, while they are sublime little pieces of skill, looked unnecessary - looked like he'd skinned the defenders already...

    I would like to see the passage from 0:18 to 0:21 with the ball removed from the video, leaving just Talebula doing a rather dainty little skip - maybe superimpose some flowers under him when he does that little hoppity-thing.

  • jimmy23
    11:51 AM 27/10/2014

    London Welsh are getting what they deserve for turning their backs on the players that got them promoted.
    Although, you can hardly blame their current players, they did what any player would do and take an opportunity to play for a professional club. The management however, big big screw up.