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Fissler Confidential: Smith, Morgan and Suaalii linked with mega moves
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Watch: Finn Russell victim of fifth-minute red-carded foul in Paris
By Liam Heagney
Scotland out-half Finn Russell was the victim of a red-carded foul just five minutes into Saturday’s Parisian derby in the Top 14 play-offs. Fourth-place Stade were hosting fifth-place Racing for the right to face Toulouse in next Friday’s semi-finals in San Sebastian and the contest got off to a firework start.
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Russell was at a ruck helping to guard Racing ball when he was struck by the foraging Marcos Kremer, who drove into the breakdown and connected with the Scotsman’s head with his left shoulder.
The incident resulted in referee Pierre Brousset reaching into his pocket to brandish the red card to the Stade forward who has form for falling on the wrong side of the law this season.
It was November when Kremer, who was only just back from the suspension received for his sending off for Stade versus Pau, was sent off at BT Murrayfield when playing for Argentina against Russell’s Scotland for charging recklessly into a ruck and connecting with the head of Jamie Ritchie.
That expulsion allowed the Scots to run up a huge 52-29 win and the subsequent midweek disciplinary hearing led to Kremer getting a four-match suspension.
Stade Francais and Argentinean international back row Marcos Kremer was shown a red card for making contact with the head of Finn Russell inside the first five minutes of the @top14rugby quarterfinal ?#Top14 #Racing92 #StadeFrancais #FrenchRugby #Top14Quarterfinal pic.twitter.com/mp8xWTydY6
— FloRugby (@FloRugby) June 3, 2023
After Kremer – who is due to play for Clermont next season after the upcoming Rugby World Cup with Argentina –was red-carded at Stade Jean-Bouin, Russell, who himself is set for a summer move to Bath, was taken off for a HIA. By the time he returned, Racing were leading 14-3 and he soon extended this advantage to 17-3 with a penalty kick.
That lead didn’t last, however, as two Racing yellow cards in the lead-up to the interval created a 13-versus-14 scenario, enabling Stade to score two tries to level the match at 17-all.
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Racing were the better second-half team, though, as three Russell penalty kicks put them 26-17 clear before a late converted Gael Fickou try sealed the 33-20 victory.
