The Irish Mail on Sunday

Zebo says he’s sorry for taunting Ulster rival

- By James Murray

SIMON ZEBO has apologised to Ulster’s Michael Lowry after taunting the full-back on his way to capping victory for Racing 92 at La Defense Arena in Paris yesterday. The former Irish internatio­nal was given a telling off by referee Nigel Owens after he wagged his finger at his opponent as he crossed for his side’s fifth try. Writing on Twitter, Zebo insisted the behaviour was out of character. ‘Got too excited and I don’t do stuff like that as long as I’ve played. I wouldn’t like my kids doing that and I’m disappoint­ed in myself,’ he said. ‘Made a mistake, not in the spirit of the game. Sorry again.’ The controvers­y failed to take away from what was a dominant display as Racing establishe­d themselves as the early pacesetter­s in Pool 4 of the Champions Cup.

Tries from Teddy Iribaren, Wenceslas Lauret, Juan Imhoff, Teddy Thomas and Zebo, plus 18 points from the boot of Finn Russell, was enough to secure victory.

Ulster scored two tries of their own courtesy of David Shanahan and Jacob Stockdale while Billy Burns kicked two points.

Ulster made the perfect start when Will Addison put Shanahan over after an excellent counter-attack.

Despite being reduced to 14 men when No8 Nick Timoney received a yellow card, the visitors extended their lead with Stockdale crossing in the corner following a period of pressure in the Racing 22.

Racing hit back after scrum-half Iribaren went over. Lauret got a second minutes later after a break into the Ulster 22.

Russell put his side further ahead with a penalty from 40 metres to give the Parisians a 20-12 lead at the interval.

Imhoff touched down in the early stages of the second half after a break by Olivier Klemenczak.

A try from Thomas preceded Zebo’s controvers­ial fifth.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Ireland