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Watch: Finn Russell's nonchalant back-hand flick sets up Racing counter-attacking raid
By Online Editors
Racing 92 powered to a 22-13 win over Toulon on the back of a brilliant piece of counter-attacking play resulting in a try for French winger Teddy Thomas.
Returning a box kick from just inside their half, Simon Zebo fired a pass across to Finn Russell who probed out towards the far touchline, providing a casual flick pass on the inside to centre Viri Vakatawa. Another quick offload from the Fijian kept the ball alive inside to Teddy Thomas, who powered through three Toulon defenders to score under the posts on the astroturf in Paris.
Racing scored their second try through a short-range effort from Leone Nakarawa shortly after to stretch their lead to 15-6.
Scotland flyhalf Russell provided again with 12 minutes remaining, hitting reserve Olivier Klemenczak with a well-timed short-ball close to the line to all but seal the match at 22-6.
A late try to Toulon through giant lock Brian Alainu'uese added some respect to final scoreline.
Racing look in ominous form leading into next weekend's resumption of the Heineken Champions Cup, where the Parisians will face off in a blockbuster pool clash with defending champions Leinster.
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Latest Comments
Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca. The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.
His time with City - a lower win ratio compared to Bayern Munich as you say - includes a 100 PT season. A feat that will likely never be surpassed. I appreciate you don’t follow soccer too closely but even casual fans refer to the sport in ‘pre and post Pep’ terms and all because of what he has achieved and is continuing to achieve, late career. There is a reason that even U10’s play out from the back now at every level of the game. That’s also a fairly recent development.
How refreshing to return to rugby on a rugby forum.
Ireland won a long over due slam in 2009. The last embers of a golden generation was kicked on by a handful of young new players and a new senior coach. Kiss was brought in as defence coach and was the reason they won it. They’d the best defence in the game at the time. He all but invented the choke tackle. Fittingly they backed it up in the next world cup in their 2011 pool match against… Australia. The instantly iconic image of Will Genia getting rag-dolled by Stephen Ferris.
His career since has even included director of rugby positions. He would have an extremely good idea of where the game is at and where it is going in addition to governance experience and dealings. Not least in Oz were many of the players will have come via or across Rugby League pathways.
Gatland isn’t a valid coach to compare too. He only ever over-achieved and was barely schools level without Shaun Edwards at club or test level. His return to Wales simply exposed his limitations and a chaotic union. It wasn’t age.
Schmidt is open to staying involved in a remote capacity which I think deserves more attention. It would be a brain drain to lose him. He stepped in to coach the ABs in the first 2022 test against Ireland when Foster was laid out with Covid. They mullered Ireland 42-19. He was still heavily involved in the RWC 2023 quarter final. Same story.
Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.
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