Racing lose again in Top 14 with Munster clash looming

There was no joy for Racing Metro ahead of their Heineken Cup opener with Munster at Stade de France on Saturday after the Parisians suffered a second defeat in-a-row at the weekend.

Racing were beaten 16-12 by fellow European qualifiers Montpellier HR at their own Stade Yves Du Manoir with the visitors’ substitute back rower Alexandre Bias scoring the only try of the game in the second half. Showing 12 changes from the team defeated 27-13 the previous week at newly-promoted Grenoble, all Racing’s points came from the boot of incoming scrum-half Maxime Machenaud but the losing bonus point against Montpellier kept them in seventh place in the Top 14 standings after eight games.

Leinster’s opponents, Exeter Chiefs, stunned Premiership champions Harlequins 42-28 while Castres warmed up for their Friday night visit to Ravenhill with a 16-13 win over Clermont in the French Top 14.