Athens News - Spring quick-fire hat-trick helps Racing stun Bordeaux-Begles

One-time France international Spring, 24, inspired his young side to their first win of the new season having been hammered at Lyon last weekend.

Bordeaux-Begles, Champions Cup winners and Top 14 runners-up last season, were startled after Spring's early interventions in Paris and failed to build on last Saturday's victory over La Rochelle.

Yannick Bru's Bordeaux-Begles handed starts to their France wing pair of Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Damian Penaud, who scored 60 tries between them for club and country last season.

Racing 92's lack of depth was highlighted by naming 19-year-old tight-head prop Edouard Jabe on the bench for his senior debut with close-season signing in Australia No 3 Taniela Tupou only expected to arrive in the French capital in December.

The hosts led 31-3 after barely half an hour as Spring crossed for his hat-trick after 20-year-old scrum-half Leo Carbonneau had crossed early on.

By the break they were 36-8 ahead as Ugo Seunes, Owen Farrell's replacement at fly-half following the ex-England captain's premature departure this summer, kicked two penalties and Bielle-Biarrey sneaked over for the visitors.

Racing's unexpected win was secured after the interval as former England No 8 Nathan Hughes scored before Bordeaux-Begles claimed four consolation tries in the final 25 minutes to deny the hosts a bonus point.

Champions Toulouse, who edged Bordeaux-Begles in last season's decider, are second in the table having beaten Perpignan 31-13 on Saturday.

Lyon are top after another superb solo try from Fiji winger Jiuta Wainiqolo helped them to a 25-18 win over promoted Montauban.

Clermont's Australia lock Rob Simmons made some unwanted history as he became the first Top 14 player to receive an orange card in the 34-16 loss at La Rochelle.

Under the new rule, the player is sent off but can be replaced by another player after 20 minutes.

W.Kokkinos--AN-GR