Racing book last 16 spot
EUROPEAN CUP REPORT: Three-time runners-up Racing 92 claimed a last 16 place as they beat the Ospreys 25-10 after the Welsh region deservedly led by two points at the break.
“We’re happy to get the win, but the performance left a lot to be desired,” the Parisians’ coach Mike Prendergast said in his post-match reaction.
“We need to be a lot better than that if we’re serious about going deep in this competition,” he added.
The Welsh side has still never recorded a win against their French opponents in five meetings.
Ospreys got off to a bad start with Alex Cuthbert picking up a yellow card for a high tackle in the sixth minute and Maxime Machenaud scoring the subsequent penalty.
But they responded well, Keiran Williams crossing the line on 20 minutes, and Gareth Anscombe adding the conversion and then a penalty ten minutes later.
Juan Imhoff grabbed a low, flat ball seven minutes before half-time to power over and reduce the deficit, and from then on Racing dominated, largely taking advantage of sloppy Ospreys handling and mistakes in the field.
Virimi Vakatawa and Teddy Thomas both added tries for the visitors, converted by Antoine Gibert, and Finn Russell kicked a penalty from just inside the halfway line.
The scorers
For Ospreys
Try: Williams
Con: Anscombe
Pen: Anscombe
For Racing 92
Tries: Imhoff, Vakatawa, Thomas
Cons: Gibert 2
Pens: Machenaud, Russell
Yellow cards: Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys, 6), Will Griffiths (Ospreys, 50)
Teams
Ospreys: 15 Mat Protheroe, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Owen Watkin, 12 Kieran Williams, 11 Luke Morgan, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Rhys Webb (captain), 8 Ethan Roots, 7 Jac Morgan, 6 Will Griffiths, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Rhys Davies, 3 Tom Francis, 2 Dewi Lake, 1 Gareth Thomas,
Replacements: 16 Elvis Taione, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Ma’afu Fia, 19 Will Hickey, 20 Sam Cross, 21 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22 Josh Thomas, 23 Mike Collins,
Racing 92: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Olivier Klemenczak, 12 Gael Fickou (captain), 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Maxime Machenaud, 8 Anthime Hemery, 7 Baptiste Chouzenoux, 6 Ibrahim Diallo, 5 Boris Palu, 4 Luke Jones, 3 Ali Oz, 2 Teddy Baubigny, 1 Eddy Ben Arous,
Replacements: 16 Jonathan Maïau, 17 Guram Gogichashvili, 18 Cedate Gomes Sa, 19 Victor Moreaux, 20 Camille Chat, 21 Antoine Gibert, 22 Virimi Vakatawa, 23 Donovan Taofifenua,
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)
Assistant referees: Dean Richards (England) & Wayne Falla (England)
TMO: David Rose (England)
Sources: AFP & @ChampionsCup
