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Racing-Metro put the mixed start to their season firmly behind them with a shock 19-15 victory over star-studded French rugby Top 14 leaders Toulon on Sunday.
Toulon, averaging more than 42 points per game at home and bidding to take their winning streak at Stade Mayol to 19 matches, were outmuscled by a Racing side led magnificently by captain Dimitri Szarzewski and Fiji No 8 Sakiusa Matadigo.
After two appearances off the bench since a three-month lay-off following a herniated disc, Racing fly-half Jonathan Wisniewski kicked three penalties, a drop goal and a conversion.
Veteran former England flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson, whose outstanding form makes him a creditable shout for one of the three fly-half spots in the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia in the summer, needed three stitches after a head clash but continued and kept Toulon in the match with his goalkicking.
Toulon led 9-6 at halftime but a key moment came earl;y in the second half when Racing centre Fabrice Estabanez fended off Toulon centres Mathieu Bastareaud and Matt Giteau to find Henry Chavency on his inside for a try Wisniewski converted.
“They played great tonight, with a lot of pride,” said Toulon captain Joe van Niekerk, the former Springbok.
“We’re very disappointed. But we’ll go away and keep on working. We’ve lost once here (this season). We’re not finished, no way.”
Racing now sit eighth in the Top 14 table after leapfrogging Perpignan and Stade Francais, and coach Gonzalo Quesada said it could relaunch their season.
In the weekend’s other matches, Clermont and Toulouse consolidated their second and third spots in the championship with victories over Montpellier and Mont-de-Marsan respectively.
In winning 36-18, Clermont extended their unbeaten home streak to 53 games in impressive form, but Toulouse were made to work hard against the Top 14’s bottom club in their 16-12 victory.
Full-back Jerome Porcial kicked seven penalties to hand Stade Francais a much-needed 21-13 victory over Bayonne, while David Mele was in identical kicking form to help Perpignan to a 26-16 win at home over struggling Bordeaux-Begles.
The shock of the weekend was Grenoble’s 14-12 victory over fourth-placed Castres, the southeastern club’s 24th consecutive home victory since May 2011.
The result pushed them into fifth place and virtually guaranteed that they remain in the Top 14 after promotion from the Pro D2 last year.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.