Owen Farrell apologises for card in Top 14 showdown

TOP 14 WRAP: Racing 92 Director of Rugby Stuart Lancaster said on Saturday former England captain Owen Farrell “was sorry” for receiving his second yellow card of the season in the 30-23 French Top 14 victory over Perpignan.

Farrell was sin-binned in the 78th minute for palming visiting prop Giorgi Beria in the face having earlier scored his first try for the Parisian outfit.

The 33-year-old’s contribution helped his side move up to eighth place in the table on his seventh Racing appearance, having also been disciplined against Clermont in mid-September.

“I thought it was fair enough,” Lancaster said of Farrell’s yellow card.

“I think he’s finding his feet in the Top 14.

“He’s enjoying it, he’s leading well and I know he was sorry after the game for putting the team in that position,” the former England coach added.

The Catalans drop down to 12th with their fifth loss of the season.

Farrell joined Racing this season, ending his international career by playing club rugby abroad, but could still be selected for the British and Irish Lions’ tour of Australia later this year.

England’s record points scorer was joined on the scoresheet by France scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec and South African No.8 Hacjivah Dayimani as Racing led 27-10.

The home side held on for victory with a late Le Garrec penalty.

Farrell’s fellow England international Mako Vunipola also celebrated a try as the prop claimed his second five-pointer of the season in promoted Vannes’ 34-28 win over Castres.

Bordeaux-Begles moved back above Toulouse to top spot with a 19-6 win over Pau, before struggling 14-time champions Stade Francais moved off the bottom of the table by easing past Clermont 36-6 in the final game of the day.

On Sunday, French rugby’s poster boy Antoine Dupont starts for Toulouse as they welcome Toulon in his final club appearance before France’s November internationals.

Les Bleus start their autumn campaign on November 9 against Japan.