RACING 92 SECURED their place in the Champions Cup semi-finals next weekend with a 41-22 win over Sale Sharks at the Paris La Défense Arena.
The Parisians will now meet fellow Top 14 side La Rochelle in the last four.
Although Racing have home advantage for the tie, it will take place at Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens because their home ground of Paris La Défense Arena is unavailable due to French rap group Sexion d’Assaut having two concerts there next weekend.
Racing attack coach Mike Prendergast will have been pleased with his side’s response to trailing 10-6 at the interval of this afternoon’s quarter-final, with Sale centre Manu Tuilagi having burst over for a try just before half-time to hand his team the lead.
Racing improved after the break and swiftly moved in front when wing Teddy Thomas produced a stunning try, somehow keeping Finn Russell’s diagonal kick in play as he tiptoed along the very edge of the field of play, dropped the ball onto his right foot for a delicate grubber ahead just before he crossed the touchline himself, then got back infield to regather and dot down.
Scrum-half Nolan le Garrec converted and added a penalty soon after, then Russell produced a classy solo try as he volleyed the ball out of his own half, got a fortunate bounce, nudged it ahead a second time, and reeled it back in to dive over for another converted score.
Sale responded in the 54th minute as hooker Akker van der Merwe barrelled over from close range, with Rob du Preez’s conversion bringing the Sharks back within six points of Racing at 23-17.
But two more penalties from le Garrec saw Racing extend their lead again and then the scrum-half broke through before fullback Max Spring fed left wing Juan Imhoff to grab their third try.
Sale scored another consolation try through back row Ben Curry, but the home team weren’t to be denied and they ended the game with aplomb as 21-year-old Spring put the finishing touch on another classy try converted by Maxime Machenaud.
Racing will now meet Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle in the north of France with the semi-final being taken to Lens.
La Rochelle secured their semi-final place yesterday with a convincing 31-19 win over Montpellier.
Among O’Gara’s coaching team in La Rochelle is ex-Munster and Ireland lock Donnacha Ryan and they will be coaching against one of their former Munster team-mates in Prendergast, who is returning to his native province as attack coach this summer.
Racing have been in the Champions Cup final on three occasions but have yet to win the competition.
Leinster will play Toulouse in Dublin in the other Champions Cup semi-final next weekend.
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Come on you boys in blue!
Up da dubs.
Jesus, looks like just saying you support the Dubs is enough to get you red thumbed. Anyway, everyone hates us but we don’t care. COYBIB!!
CHAMPIONS!!!!!!
Come on Kerry. Anyone But Dublin
Fantastic display from the Dubs,welcome home Sam!
Come on the dubs!!!
Come on you boys, come on you boys in blue!!!
Who are the 4 muppets on RTE 2 arguing over nothing?
I know!! Everybody wants to see the best play in a final and a Kerry v Dublin is like The Spanish El Clasico!!!
Did they lube the pitch up with baby oil before this match? Shlippin’ and shlidin’ all over the place
Come on Dublin.
Tis a slipping and sliding match.
When I seen the photograph of the woman and baby accompanying this article I thought it was going to be another migrant/refugee story!
It’s a refugee free day!! Beer and maybe a leg over later if Dublin win!!
I’m off the drink but I’ll take you up on the offer of the leg over.
Might be some consolation after the hiding Tipperary got in the minor game
worst allireland final in my living memory. Very very poor.
Puke.
The boys on RTE just after mentioning how both teams have played limited division 1 opposition,to put that into perspective Donegal who were knocked out of the championship in the Q/F have played more Div 1 teams than both Kerry and Dublin combined.
They won’t get any all-stars either despite the lop-sided draw they came through. Perhaps Durcan – had a terrific year.
It’s a very unfair system. Ulster teams get a raw deal there’s no disputing that
Best team won in the end.
Dublin have the better squad, Kerry have the better management. Kerry by 2.
Jack Kerry are not that strong !!!
…Stick to the day job Michael
Na I work nights
Looking like the Dubs having the better on the sideline as well so far, cooper bring dragged up and down the field and o Sullivan getting in on the scoring Gooch too far out from the goals
Wouldn’t completely agree, Kerry’s shooting has been absolutely woeful. When playing Dublin you have to take your chances. 8 wides(?) in 35 minutes is inexcusable in an AIF,
Congrats Dublin, the better side on the day
They should get rid of them clowns up in the studio and stick O’se and Whelao up there.
Come on utd
Carney already has O’Donoghue as his man of the match..
Never understood why they call it football. It should be called handball.
Because the foot kicks the ball? Derp!
Because it’s played on foot! The same reason Association Football is called football, American football is called football and rugby is called rugby football. The more you know *spreads hands in star motion*
Good game so far considering the conditions.
A.B.D
Deserved victory for Dublin, adapted to the conditions better and were unquestionably the better team on the day..faif pay to them..poor quality final..poor championsip.. (from the perspective of a neutral)
Well done best team won in the end to be honest it should hav been a bigger margin and they really should have three in a row by now by far the best team over the last three to four years.
Well done boys!! Up the Dubs!!
Martin carney is getting worried that Dublin might actually win
Dublin being a bit wasteful early on when they’re in shooting distance of a goal
Looks like donaghy is togged to start?????. Let the games begin
Get Paul Flynn off the pitch and this game would be put to bed.
I must have been at a different match . Paul Flynn was my man of the match