Cardiff Rugby produce one of their finest Euro displays to sweep aside Racing 92

Cardiff produced one of their finest European performances in recent years as they swept aside French giants Racing 92 32-13 at the Arms Park to move to the cusp of the Challenge Cup knockout stages.

The Welsh club trailed 13-12 at the interval but scored 19 unanswered points in a dominant second-half performance.

Tries from Tom Bowen, Rory Thornton, Keiron Assiratti and player of the match Ben Thomas, along with a combined 12 points from the boots of Callum Sheedy and Jacob Beetham, got Cardiff over the line.

Racing crossed the line twice in the first half courtesy of Selestino Ravutaumada and Geronimo Prisciantelli.

Cardiff are all but guaranteed qualification for the knockout stages with a trip to Exeter Chiefs to come next week.

There was drama right from the get-go as Cardiff No 8 Alun Lawrence spilled the kick-off only to be hit directly in the head by Racing wing Ravutaumada.

After going to the TMO the Fijian wing got sent to the sin bin but Racing drew first blood with three points from the boot of Antoine Gibert.

Cardiff quickly got a foothold in the game and a beautiful chip ahead from Sheedy got taken by Bowen who showed tremendous pace to skin Prisciantelli to score at the corner.

Sheedy smashed over the conversion from out wide but Racing's attack clicked into gear.

The French club looked extremely dangerous with ball in hand and after getting over the gain-line some nice handling from Gibert and Prisciantelli released Hacjivah Dayimani who drew in Jacob Beetham to put Ravutaumada over.

Cardiff squandered a few chances, with one materialising after a sensational 50/22 from loosehead prop Rhys Barratt.

The hosts had a lineout in the Racing 22 but a sloppy knock-on from Taine Basham let the French club off the hook.

Leo