Sekope Kepu made his debut for Irish as a replacement - the prop's first game since playing against Georgia for Australia at the World Cup in October
European Challenge Cup Pool Two |
|---|
Bayonne: (19) 27 |
Tries: Ordas, Robinson, Monribot, Baget Cons: Ordas 2 Pens: Fajardo |
London Irish: (5) 10 |
Tries: Tuatagaloa, Williams |
A much-changed London Irish side's outside hopes of progressing in the European Challenge Cup were ended as they lost at French side Bayonne.
Manuel Ordas and Sean Robinson's tries put Bayonne 12-0 up in eight minutes.
Belgium Tuatagaloa reduced the lead in the 32nd minute before Jean Monribot got Bayonne's third try soon after.
Matt Williams pulled another back for Irish in the second half, but Brandon Fajardo's penalty and Remy Baget's score finished off the Exiles.
Irish, who made 14 changes to the XV which lost to Exeter Chiefs last week, gave a debut to Australia prop Sekope Kepu as an early second-half replacement - his first game since the World Cup pool stages.
The Exiles are still third in the pool above Bayonne on points difference, with both sides now having won one of their five matches.
Bayonne: Camara; Robinson, Alofa, Muscarditz, Baget; Ordas, Ruru; Afatia, van Jaarsveld, de Clercq, van Lill, Luamanu, Monribot (capt), Collet, Taofifenua
Replacements: Delonca, Boniface, Taufa, Maka, Darlet, Saubusse, Fajardo, Lestrade
London Irish: Stokes; Fowlie, Williams, Campbell, Tuatagaloa; Atkins, Phipps; Elrington, Porecki, Chawatama, Mafi, Maddison (capt), Donnell, Ioane, Rogerson
Replacements: Atkins, Goodrick-Clarke, Kepu, Munga, Curtis-Harris, Steele, Meehan, Cokanasiga
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