Arizona Tribune - Spring double keeps Racing 92 in Top 14 play-off hunt with Paris derby win

Victory moved Racing to within two points of Clermont in the final play-off spot.

Stade Francais remain in fourth, five points below Pau in the automatic semi-final spot, having suffered their first league defeat since mid-February.

Experienced France centre Gael Fickou started for the hosts after newspaper L'Equipe claimed earlier in the week that he would be leaving his Racing 92 contract early to join Toulon at the end of the season.

Stade Francais named a second-string side, handing 19-year-old South Africa lock Jacques Botha his Top 14 debut, for a derby first played in 1891.

Racing led 13-6 after 25 minutes thanks to Spring's opener, set-up by Fickou from short-range, while Louis Foursans-Bourdette slotted two penalties for the away side, based 10km to the south in the French capital.

Georgia prop Giorgi Melikidze crossed for his seventh league try of the season, with Foursans-Bourdette converting to bring the sides level after half an hour.

Spring, capped by once Les Bleus in 2021, scored his second to give the hosts a 20-13 lead at the break.

Two minutes into the second-half, Racing stretched their lead with an effort from winger Wame Naituvu.

Racing were awarded a penalty try before veteran France lock Romain Taofifenua claimed the bonus point with two minutes to play.

On Saturday, France superstar Antoine Dupont was a second-half substitutes as Toulouse cruised past Castres 42-25 a week on from their Champions Cup quarter-final loss to Bordeaux-Begles.

Dupont's record 24-time French champions moved 12 points clear of second-placed Pau to seal a play-off spot but their aim remains an automatic semi-final berth.

Scottish referee Hollie Davidson became the first woman to officiate a Top 14 game as she took charge of Clermont's 41-23 win over Lyon.

Y.Baker--AT