sport news Scotland star Finn Russell shows his class as Racing 92 seal a huge victory ... trends now
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When Manu Tuilagi rampaged over for a try just before half-time, a shock was on the cards but it turned into the expected end of the English challenge in the Heineken Champions Cup as Sale succumbed to the genius of Finn Russell.
It wasn’t his day, it wasn’t Sale’s day and it wasn’t English rugby’s day. Tries by Juan Imhoff and Max Spring in the last 10 minutes reinforced the dominance of Racing — and of French rugby.
Sale led 10-6 at the break after dragging their vaunted opponents into a savage, stop-start scrap but when Racing cut loose in the second half, they overwhelmed the Sharks.
Racing 92 sealed a 41-22 victory over Sale Sharks in the Heineken Champions Cup clash
Finn Russell was the star of the show to help Racing 92 progress into the cup semi-finals
As was the case last year, there will be three French teams in the last four of Europe’s blue-riband event — and none from England.
That is a fair reflection of the balance of power at a time when an impending reduction in the Premiership salary cap threatens to widen the gap.
Once they were free of Sale’s shackles, Racing ran amok to score four tries, including a brilliant and slightly fortuitous solo strike by Russell, and a clinical finish by Teddy Thomas which Scotland’s artistic No 10 created.
Racing ran amok to score four tries including a clinical finish from Teddy Thomas (pictured)
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