Parisians Racing 92 and Stade Francais recorded comprehensive victories in the European Rugby Champions Cup on Saturday in matches that had to be rearranged due to the Paris terror attacks in November last year.
Racing pummeled Glasgow 34-10 in a bonus-point victory to put themselves firmly in the driving seat of Pool 3, while Stade played the whole second half a man down, but still coasted past Munster 27-7 in Pool 4.
Racing proved far too powerful up front for Glasgow, scoring four converted pushover tries, and victory at home to already-eliminated Scarlets this weekend would secure their progress into the knock-out stages.
Photo: AFP
Glasgow’s Finn Russell handed the visitors an unlikely lead with a 15th-minute penalty at a wind-swept Stade Yves-du-Manoir.
Racing’s Dan Carter drew the scores level 10 minutes later with his own penalty before former Chiefs prop and one-time All Black hopeful Ben Tameifuna crashed over from close range.
Carter kicked the conversion and a second penalty shortly before halftime.
Racing opened the second period in complete control, with skipper and hooker Dimitri Szarzewski driving over for the team’s second try, while more forward power saw prop Eddy Ben Arous crash over as all three front-row forwards got on the scoresheet.
Glasgow’s outstanding Fijian lock Leone Nakawara claimed a try back after a smart lineout move, but Racing refocused and had the last laugh when Argentina lock Manuel Carizza was driven over the line for the bonus-point fourth try that left Racing seven points clear at the top of their pool.
Stade closed to within four points of Pool 4 leaders Leicester — who must still travel to France — as Munster were eliminated at the Stade Jean-Bouin, leaving Ulster as the only Irish province still in with a chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
Stade could have taken the lead, but a diving tap-tackle from Munster center Francis Saili stopped Fijian wing Josaia Raisuqe from streaking down the wing for a certain try.
However, Stade opened the scoring when Samoa center Paul Williams hit a perfect line to run onto Dupuy’s pass and break between two tacklers to score.
Morne Steyn converted and soon after added a penalty to boot, but, on the stroke of halftime, Raisuqe was dismissed for eye-gouging.
Yet Stade still dominated the second period.
Steyn scored another penalty after Robin Copeland was penalized for coming in at the side of a ruck.
On the hour mark, Munster finally started to make the extra man count, working an overlap for Rory Scannell to touch down in the corner, only for the score to be chalked off due to a forward pass.
The Irish province were made to pay on 67 minutes as Stade flanker Sekou Macalou scored a stunning individual try, brushing off three tacklers before side-stepping wing Keith Earls and sprinting in for a try.
Moments later, more flimsy tackling from Munster allowed Hugo Bonneval to burst through to score in the corner.
Conor Murray’s try six minutes from time was scant consolation for two-time former winners Munster.
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