Sunday Snippets

SBW doubt: After making his long anticipated return to the 15 a side version of the game, star midfielder Sonny Bill Williams may be forced to sit out next week’s clash with England at Twickenham, after agitating an existing thigh injury. In an impressive return to Union, Williams crossed the whitewash on two occasions for Steve Hansen’s side in the 74-6 demolition job of their American hosts in Chicago. Having left the field on the 60 minute mark with what has been described as a corked thigh, Williams is now in a race against time to be fit to face Stuart Lancaster’s men in London next weekend. However, even if he does regain full fitness before the English clash, Williams does not expect to make an immediate return to the first XV, with the likes of Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Ben Smith and Ryan Crotty all competing for the centre berths. 

Chiefs bring in Byron: Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter has confirmed that former Glasgow Warriors back line member Byron McGuigan has joined the Devon based club until the close of the current domestic season. 25 year old McGuigan completed his move to the Chiefs on Saturday afternoon, just ahead of the club’s LV=Cup clash with Gloucester at Sandy Park. Having recently been featuring for the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand’s domestic competition, the ITM Cup, McGuigan learnt of the potential move just three days ago, before immediately booking a flight to link up with his new teammates. With the Aviva Premiership set to return in less than a fortnight, Exeter head coach Baxter felt his squad looked a little bare in the back division, especially when injuries or international call ups occur. McGuigan will offer a versatile option, with the ability to feature across multiple positions, most notably at 13 or 15.

Metro downed: Oyonnax have produced arguably the shock of the French Top 14 season to date, after completing a narrow 21-17 win away at high-flying Racing Metro. Infront of an impatient Stade Yves du Manoir crowd, the visitors to the French capital managed to stay in touch throughout the encounter courtesy of the boot of Argentine flyhalf Benjamin Urdapilleta. Despite trailing 14-9 at half-time, having seen Racing cross the whitewash on two occasions through Teddy Thomas and Johan Goosen, Oyonnax continued to chip away at the points difference and eventually found themselves ahead with little over ten minutes remaining. A further penalty from Urdapilleta, his sixth of the afternoon, sealed the win, with the hosts unable to manufacture any significant comeback, falling to their first home defeat of the season.

Ryan Sheady