Racing rule Paris
Racing Metro stunned Stade Francais in the Paris derby winning their Top 14 clash 20-18.
There were also impressive victories for Castres, who smashed Toulouse 30-10, as well for Toulon, who negotiated Brive 19-10 at Stade Mayol.
But the Racing upset, admittedly against an understrength Stade unit, was the talking point of the round. Springbok Frans Steyn, playing at inside centre for Racing, contributed a 57th minute long-range penalty, but it was ultimately the boot of Jonathan Wisniewski which was the difference between the sides.
Frederic Michalak scored all the points for Toulouse, who fielded Shaun Sowerby and Daan Human, but the French giants were utterly disappointing overall, losing to the determined Castres and conceding four tries in the process.
Toulon flyhalf Sebastien Fauque’s goal-kicking guided a Joe van Niekerk-captained Toulon to victory. Van Niekerk delivered a strong performance, as did former Stormers lock Ross Skeate. Brive’s South African contingent of Scott Spedding, Ronnie Cooke and Antione Claassen could make no telling contribution to their cause.
In other results, Sam Gerber scored in Bayonne’s 38-13 rout of Montauban.
Top 14 results
Albi 24-23 Perpignan
Bourgoin 20-23 Montpellier
Bayonnais 38-13 Montauban
Toulon 19-10 Brive
Racing Métro 20-18 Stade Français
Castres 30-10 Toulouse
November 21st, 2009 at 10:00 pm
F steyns boys!
November 21st, 2009 at 10:39 pm
#1 grant10: Really hope he comes back next year. One advantage to him buggering off though; we’ll have an able back-up trained and exposed to enough international rugby for the 2011 World Cup in Zane Kirchner.
November 21st, 2009 at 11:12 pm
Ryan, Racing’s win was not the talking point of the round (they won their last 4 French Top14 games including a win over Toulouse) . . .
Bottom of the table Albi’s win over top of the table Perpignan was the big shock and upset
November 21st, 2009 at 11:23 pm
How is it that Frans Steyn is playing at 12… seems like he is being accomodated in the team… Have the French already discovered he is fake. The world’s “greatest” Fullback playing at 12…out of position???… IRB player of the Year..LMAO
November 21st, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Maybe they should consider accomadate Fransie as a forward, he looks too big between their backs…And seems to have put on weight a bit ( too much French chcolate?)or perhaps this an ilusion because of that awful Racing’s kit ( a prisoner’s pyjamas style )
November 22nd, 2009 at 6:24 am
F Steyn moved to France as he wanted to play 12….wanted to be closer to the action as he called it.
We could do with a big physical 12 next Sat!!
November 22nd, 2009 at 10:59 am
Fauque’s a fly-hal. Not too difficult to read a team sheet is it?
November 22nd, 2009 at 10:59 am
*fly-half