Thirteen-man Racing upset Connacht in Galway
SATURDAY WRAP: Having gone down to 14 men after just 12 minutes, Racing 92 came from 5-21 down to edge past Connacht at The Sportsground.
Four tries apiece in the first half meant Connacht took a slender four-point (28-24) advantage into the break.
However, but Owen Farrell came on after 47 minutes and had an immediate impact.
Despite being yellow-carded himself and the French visitors reduced to 13 men, the Racing hung on for the win.
Farrell took the French upfield to score a minute after taking to the pitch, before slotting a drop goal to put them 37-28 up.
Two more penalties from Nolann Le Garrec to add to his two tries were enough to see Racing over the line and into the semifinals, despite two late tries from the hosts to test the nerves.
* In the earlier match Lyon Olympique Universitaire held off Ospreys to edge into semis – a 20-18 win in Swansea.
Buoyed by their win over the reigning champions last week, Lyon Olympique Universitaire came out the blocks firing – Vincent Rattez went over for the visitors to set the French side on their way.
A couple of ensuing penalties opened things up on the Welsh south coast before Ospreys’ Jac Morgan led by example to go over for the hosts and bring them level.
It was a penalty that ultimately gave the French side a slim lead at the halfway point, leaving the semi-final place all to play for as they headed back to the locker.
Lyon Olympique Universitaire were back out for the second-half and keen to extend their lead. Which is just what they managed through Mickael Guillard when he crossed on 50 minutes.
Spurred on by the home crowd, Ospreys weren’t done though. George McGuigan eventually was the one to force it over after a lengthy maul which brought to hosts to within two points.
But getting over that final line proved just too much for the hosts, and the 2022 winners continue their title charge.
* Saturday’s scores and scorers follow below …
Ospreys 18-20 Lyon Olympique Universitaire
The scorers
For Ospreys
Tries: Morgan, McGuigan
Con: Edwards
Pens: Edwards 2
Olympique Universitaire
Tries: Rattez, Guillard
Cons: Berdeu 2
Pens: Berdeu 2
Teams
Ospreys: 15 Jack Walsh, 14 Dan Kasende, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Jac Morgan (captain), 5 Adam Beard, 4 Rhys Davies, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Dewi Lake, 1 Gareth Thomas.
Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Garyn Phillips, 18 Ben Warren, 19 James Fender, 20 Morgan Morse, 21 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22 Owen Williams, 23 Iestyn Hopkins.
Olympique Universitaire: 15 Alexander Tchaptchet, 14 Vincent Rattez, 13 Josiah Maraku, 12 Theo Millet, 11 Ethan Dumortier, 10 Leo Berdeu, 9 Charlie Cassnag, 8 Maxime Gouzou, 7 Beka Shvangiradze, 6 Steeve Blanc-Mappaz, 5 Alban Roussel, 4 Felix Lambey, 3 Hamza Kaabeche, 2 Sam Matavesi, 1 Wayan de Benedittis.
Replacements: 16 Guillaume Marchand, 17 Sébastien Taofifenua, 18 Valentin Simutoga, 19 Mickaël Guillard, 20 Theo William, 21 Dylan Cretin, 22 Baptiste Couilloud, 23 Alfred Parisien.
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Peter Martin (Ireland), Andrew Cole (Ireland)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
Connacht 40-43 Racing 92
The scorers
For Connacht
Tries: Aki, Prendergast 2, Penalty try, Murphy, Forde
Cons: Hanrahan 4, penalty try does not require a conversion
For Racing 92
Tries: Naituvi, Escobar, Le Garrec 2, Tuisova
Cons: Lancaster 2, Le Garrec
Pens: Lancaster, Le Garrec 2
DG: Farrell
Red card: Wame Naituvi (Racing 92, 12)
Yellow card: Owen Farrell (Racing 92, 76)
Teams
Connacht: 15 Mack Hansen, 14 Shane Jennings, 13 Hugh Gavin, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Finn Treacy, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Ben Murphy, 8 Sean Jansen, 7 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 6 Cian Prendergast (captain), 5 Joe Joyce, 4 Josh Murphy, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Denis Buckley
Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Jack Aungier, 19. Oisín Dowling,
20 Paul Boyle, 21 Matthew Devine, 22 Josh Ioane, 23 Cathal Forde
Racing 92: 15 Sam James, 14 Wame Naituvi, 13 Vinaya Habosi, 12 Josua Tuisova, 11 Max Spring (captain), 10 Dan Lancaster, 9 Nolann le Garrec, 8 Jordan Joseph, 7 Junior Kpoku, 6 Maxime Baudonne, 5 Will Rowlands, 4 Boris Palu, 3 Demba Bamba, 2 Diego Escobar, 1 Eddy Ben Arous
Replacements: 16 Robin Couly, 17 Guram Gogichashvili, 18 Leota Lehopame, 19 Tomasin Taofifenua, 20 Shinbgirai Manyarara, 21 Donovan Taofifenua, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Henry Chavancy
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)
Assistant referees: Jack Makepeace (England), George Selwood (England)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wales)
Source: @ChallengeCup_
