Watch: Finn Russell and Teddy Thomas footskills result in 2 breathtaking tries

Two outrageous kicks from Teddy Thomas and Finn Russell helped Racing 92 beat Sale Sharks in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Champions Cup.

The Parisians were the favourites in the tie but started erratically and were trailing by four points at halftime. However, they returned to the field with renewed energy and took the lead when Russell clipped a ball towards the touchline. An onrushing Thomas recovered the kick, but looked to have dropped the ball before dotting it down over the try line.

Following a TMO referral, it was made clear that Thomas had in fact steered a delicate grubber kick downfield before stepping off the pitch. He then ran back on field to recover the ball and score Racing’s first try of the game, inciting a resurgence that Sale struggled to deal with.

Russell was next to flex his footballing skills with the score reading 16-10 in favour of the hosts. Sale had possession on halfway when flyhalf AJ MacGinty opted to stab a kick behind the Racing line. Russell was on hand to recover, but instead of catching the bobbling ball, the Scottish playmaker chose to volley it straight back and give chase.

MacGinty fell back to reclaim the kick, but an unfortunate bounce caught him out. The ball soared over his head and landed in the arms of Russell who quickly scampered downfield to score the try.

Both moments of incredible improvisation have become hallmarks of the free-flowing rugby Racing intend to play, and proved to be decisive in turning the tide in a game that, up until then, Sale had been right in the mix of.

Further tries from Juan Imhoff and Max Spring capped off a resounding 41-22 victory for Racing, setting up an all-French encounter in the semi-finals between the Parisians and La Rochelle.