European Champions Cup
14-man Racing 92 hold off Scarlets fightback
ESPN Staff
November 21, 2015
Report Match details
Date/Time: Nov 21, 2015, 17:30 local, 17:30 GMT
Venue: Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli
Scarlets 12 - 29 Racing Metro
Attendance: 0  Half-time: 0 - 26
Tries: Rawlins, Thomas
Cons: Thomas
Tries: Andreu, Machenaud, Masoe, Rokocoko
Cons: Machenaud 3
Pens: Goosen
Racing 92's number 8 from New Zealand Chris Masoe (C) scores their third try during the European Rugby Champions Cup rugby union match between Scarlets and Racing 92 at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli, November 21, 2015.
Chris Masoe crashes over for Racing 92
© Getty Images
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Tournaments/Tours: European Rugby Champions Cup
Teams: France | Scarlets | Wales

Scarlets saw their hopes of advancing from Pool Three of the European Champions Cup dealt a blow with a 29-12 loss to Racing 92.

The French side had Bernard Le Roux sent off but still secured a bonus-point victory at Parc y Scarlets.

Racing dominated the first half during which they claimed the try bonus point and scored four tries to two, but they were reduced to 14 men for most of the second half when flanker Le Roux was sent off for stamping.

The Racing tries came from scrum-half Maxime Machenaud, who also kicked four points, wing Joe Rokocoko, flanker Chris Masoe, and wing Marc Andreu.

Scarlets made the most of the one-man advantage in the second half, with their tries coming from Aled Thomas and Lewis Rawlins.

Hooker Ken Owens recovered from a foot injury to lead Scarlets as one of three changes from the side that earned a losing bonus point at Northampton Saints.

Wales lock Luke Charteris started for Racing 92, while former Scarlets scrum-half Mike Phillips came on in the second half.

It was Racing's first match since the terrorist attacks in their home city of Paris, after their scheduled game against Glasgow Warriors last Saturday was postponed. There was a minute's silence before the French national anthem -- La Marseillaise -- was played.

Racing showed Scarlets how to play attacking rugby, stunning the Welsh region with two tries in the space of 10 minutes and another two before half-time.

On eight minutes, Racing attacked the blindside when former New Zealand wing Rokocoko put a kick down the right touchline, with Machenaud beating DTH van der Merwe to the ball. Machenaud failed with the conversion.

Ten minutes later Scarlets were again undone down the right as Rokocoko was put free to score the Paris side's second try. This time Machenaud added the extras.

On 28 minutes, 12-0 became 19-0 when Le Roux broke clear after a scrum and Masoe was on hand to slide in for the third try, converted by Machenaud.

Racing brought up the bonus-point try in the final act of the first half when Machenaud nursed the blindside again to put Andreu clear down the left. But Machenaud missed the conversion as Racing led 26-0 at the break.

Racing suffered a setback at the start of the second half when Le Roux was shown the straight red card for a stamp on Scarlets prop Phil John at a ruck. Referee Greg Garner had no doubt in his mind to send off Le Roux having been made aware of the foul play by the TMO Keith Lewis.

After hammering at Racing's line, Scarlets finally broke through with full-back Thomas going over. But Thomas could not add the extras from the left touchline.

As Scarlets came with wave after wave of attack, Racing went down to 13 men after 65 minutes with replacement prop Ben Tameifuna being sent to the sin bin.

And with two extra men, Rawlins was able to squeeze over for the second try with Thomas adding the extras. It left Scarlets trailing 26-12 with 14 minutes remaining.

Racing stopped the rot with Johan Goosen kicking a penalty after 70 minutes to complete their first win in Wales.

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