Latest
Overview
Standings
4
3
Positions on Jan 18, 2020
Head to Head
2
Wins
1
Draws
0
Last 3 meetings
Season so far
Total Tries
16
12
Metres Gained
1662
1974
Passes
868
602
Tackles Made
688
676
Penalties Conceded
60
62
Turnovers Won
60
62
Tournament record
London Irish
| Played | 105 (51 home, 54 away) |
|---|---|
| Wins | 66 (37 home, 29 away) |
| Losses | 37 (12 home, 25 away) |
| Draws | 2 (2 home, 0 away) |
| Average points | 33 |
| Biggest win | 79 - 3 |
| Heaviest defeat | 3 - 47 |
Bayonne
| Played | 86 (42 home, 44 away) |
|---|---|
| Wins | 34 (21 home, 13 away) |
| Losses | 50 (20 home, 30 away) |
| Draws | 2 (1 home, 1 away) |
| Average points | 24 |
| Biggest win | 92 - 6 |
| Heaviest defeat | 3 - 50 |
The London Irish defence crowds out Scarlets' Johnny McNicholl in the European Rugby Challenge Cup Round 1 match at Parc y Scarlets last weekend
London Irish will seek to end a disappointing sequence of home results in the European Rugby Challenge Cup when they play host to Bayonne in Pool 2 on Saturday.
The Exiles have lost three of their last four ties on home soil in the competition, having previously been beaten only three times in 24 such home games.
Key facts
- The clubs have met only once before – in the 2006 Challenge Cup quarter-final, which Irish won 48-5.
- Bayonne have not won an away game in the Challenge Cup since 2013 and are still searching for their first away victory in England.
- The TOP 14 team missed just eight tackles in their 20-13 home loss to RC Toulon, the joint fewest in Round 1.
📹 | REACTION: @GeorgeNott1 is confident that the squad will bounce back from Saturday's narrow defeat to Scarlets and make an impact in the @ERChallengeCup.
🗣 "We are here to compete." 👊
🎟 Tickets for this weekend v Bayonne 👉 https://t.co/7W2m43B9BS pic.twitter.com/QspPGd4bkb
— London Irish (@LiRFC) November 18, 2019
A. Veitokani
J. Tisseron
C. Rona
M. Mamao
. Lestrade 15'
T. Stephenson
T. Parton 57'
A. Alofa
T. Hepetema
P. Muscarditz
O. Hassell-Collins
A. Duhau
. Ordas 57'
P. Jackson
B. Fajardo
B. Meehan
N. Phipps 57'
G. Rouet
M. Saubusse 54'
H. Elrington
D. Hobbs-Awoyemi 41'
A. Iguiniz
. Afatia 20'
. Afatia 46'
S. Fainga'a
R. McMillan 59'
M. Delonca
. Lamothe 46'
L. Chawatama
O. Hoskins 41'
T. Taufa
. Mousset 46'
F. Van Der Merwe
M. Galarza
. Iashagashvili 59'
R. Botha
. Maddison 57'
E. Maka
M. Rogerson
S. Mafi 57'
S. Tau
C. Gilsenan
. Curtis-Harris 59'
T. Darlet
A. Battut 41'
A. Tuisue
M. Luamanu
Replacements
R. McMillan
. Fainga'a
M. Lamothe
M. Delonca
D. Hobbs-Awoyemi
. Elrington
V. Afatia
A. Iguiniz
O. Hoskins
. Chawatama
L. Mousset
T. Taufa
B. Maddison
. Botha
A. Battut
T. Darlet
S. Mafi
M. Rogerson
I. Iashagashvili
M. Galarza
I. Curtis-Harris
. Gilsenan
M. Saubusse
G. Rouet
N. Phipps
. Meehan
M. Ordas
. Duhau
T. Parton
T. Stephenson
Y. Lestrade
M. Mamao
London Irish finished on top against Bayonne in a high-scoring Challenge Cup match, winning 45-31 at the Madejski Stadium.
And with seven tries on the board, the hosts grabbed themselves a bonus point to add to their tally in Pool 2.
FULL-TIME: London Irish 45 – 31 @avironrugbypro
Seven tries in total for the Exiles and 5️⃣ points in the bag in round 2 of @ERChallengeCup 👊☘️#LIRvBAY pic.twitter.com/aoF8YCwKYb
— London Irish (@LiRFC) November 23, 2019
Bayonne may have been disappointed with the result overall – but will be pleased with the five tries they scored themselves to win a bonus point of their own.
It was a thrilling, fast-paced first half, with Bayonne scoring first courtesy of Arthur Duhau’s try, run nicely into the corner, and Brandon Fajardo’s conversion.
The Exiles closed the gap through Alivereti Veitokani’s short-range sprint over the line, but Toma Taufa extended the lead once more with Fajardo adding the extra two points.
Irish stayed in contention as Paddy Jackson made up for missing his first conversion chance with a 25th-minute try – his first for the club – which he converted himself.
Still Bayonne were pressing forward, with another try from Duhua and one from Mat Luamanu – neither of which Fajardo could convert.
Nos Ciel et Blanc s’inclinent 45 à 31 face aux London Irish et repartent avec le bonus offensif @ERChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/3ZcU9hvKJ5
— Aviron Bayonnais (@avironrugbypro) November 23, 2019
His opposite number Jackson was having better luck, converting tries from Albert Tuisue and Tom Stephenson, but missed the opportunity after Terrence Hepetema’s effort shortly before half-time. Nevertheless, the hosts went in at the break 31-24 up.
Saia Fainga’a added a try shortly after the break from a rolling maul, and Ben Meehan got himself on the scoresheet five minutes later, with Jackson’s boot proving accurate with both conversions.
Luamanu closed the gap a little just after the hour mark with his second try of the afternoon, but again Fajardo could not secure the extra points.
It was a reassuring win for London Irish, who had lost three of their last four ties at home in the competition.
Score Summary
Attack
58%
42%
0%
0%
Metres Gained
204
350
Tries
7
5
Carries
85
109
Defenders Beaten
15
20
Clean Breaks
6
8
Passes
97
98
Offloads
5
10
Turnovers Conceded
20
15
Defence
Tackles
142
87
Missed Tackles
20
15
Turnovers Won
9
9
Kicking
Conversions (%)
71%
5/7
60%
3/5
Penalty goals (%)
0%
0/0
0%
0/0
Drop goals (%)
0%
0/0
0%
0/0
Kicks From Hand
24
20
Metres gained from kicks
894
654
Average metres per kick
37.25
32.7
Breakdown
Rucks (%)
97%
58/60
89%
65/73
Mauls (%)
75%
9/12
100%
5/5
Maul metres gained
30
5
Turnover in ruck or maul
3
4
Set Plays
Lineouts (%)
100%
23/23
80%
12/15
Scrums (%)
100%
5/5
78%
7/9
Restarts (%)
0%
0/6
13%
1/8
Discipline
Penalties Conceded
7
9
Yellow Cards
0
1
Red Cards
0
0
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