Finn Russell scores freak try to undo Manu Tuilagi’s good work and KO Sale

Racing 92 41-22 Sale Sharks: Racing 92 set up semi-final against La Rochelle in Lens

Manu Tuilagi had Sale briefly dreaming of a first Champions Cup semi-final – before French brilliance and outrageous good fortune combined to burst their bubble.

England’s occasional midfield star plundered a try to put Sharks ahead on the stroke of half-time and spark hope of a first English representative in the last four since 2020.

But Racing regrouped and four second half tries sent the wealthy Parisian outfit through to a tie with La Rochelle for the right to play Leinster or Toulouse for the trophy.

The final scoreline was emphatic but only made possible by a stunning piece of finishing from Racing wing Teddy Thomas and a complete fluke of a second by Scotland fly-half Finn Russell.

But Sale boss Alex Sanderson refused to reach for excuses, saying: “We need to get better. You don’t win quarter-finals by conceding 40 points.

“If they didn’t do that week in, week out you could probably say it’s bad luck. But Racing make their own luck.

“It wasn’t for a lack of effort or our set-piece or physicality. For the most part it was right up there,” he added.

“But some of our decisions gifted them loose ball in space for their rock stars and that played into their hands.”

Sanderson had promised his side would counter Racing with “sledgehammer” intensity and they were true to his word.

For 40 minutes the cream of Manchester rose to the challenge, pouring into the collisions with such ferocity that the aristocrats were knocked out of their stride.

When they then took the lead it was no less than their full blooded commitment deserved.

The ball ran loose on the edge of the home 22, Tuilagi picked it up with his back to the try line, spun on his heels and powered through a hole in the red defensive line.

Racing didn’t like it but stayed cool and two minutes after the restart wrestled back the momentum through Thomas.

Russell kicked to the right, Thomas fielded the ball and, when Luke James failed to make the tackle, somehow kept his balance to stay infield and thread through a ball which he followed up to dot down.

Soon after, AJ MacGinty kicked ahead only for Russell to meet it on the half volley, chase through, hack on and benefit from a freak bounce to regain and score.

Sale refused to break, sharing the last four tries of the game with their hosts. But Russell’s try had done for them. And they knew it.

RACING 92 – Tries: Thomas, Russell, Imhoff, Spring. Cons: Le Garrec 3. Pens: Le Garrec 5.

SALE – Tries: Tuilagi, van der Merwe, B Curry. Cons: R du Preez 2. Pen: R du Preez.