Racing slam referee as Stade Francais bag bragging rights

Stade Francais won bragging rights in the Parisian derby battle with Racing-Metro, running out 23-19 victors in a tight, niggly Top 14 match on Saturday.
But Racing coach Laurent Labit was incensed by South African referee Jacob Van Heerden's decision to allow a contentious Julien Arias try in the first half.
"That has ended on a parody, a stick-up. We've been robbed," said Labit.
"Everyone saw the guy in the middle, nicely dressed, with shoes that matched his shirt, refereeing all afternoon with a smile.
"He spent the week in Paris, he must have visited a lot of things, had a nice walk around, and he did so this afternoon too."
Labit added of the controversial try: "Everyone heard the video referee refuse the try except he (Van Heerden) decided to take the initiative to give it nonetheless."
Arias appeared to have been held up and bundled into touch before grounding the ball on the line in the corner and the player himself seemed the most stunned person in the stadium when the try was given.
Even so, Stade made Racing, who had two players sin-binned, pay for their first-half ill-discipline, half-backs Jules Plisson and Julien Dupuy hitting six penalties between them, the latter also converting Julien Arias' try.
Racing managed to score three tries, two converted, through centre Alexandre Dumoulin, South African fly-half Johan Goosen and his replacement Benjamin Dambielle, but could have lost by more as Plisson and Dupuy missed 14 points with the boot.
Plisson kicked two early penalties to take Stade out to 6-0.
A Racing side packed with six South African players, but with only Mike Phillips of the team's Welsh international quartet featuring, and that from the bench, lacked discipline but were beginning to look dangerous in midfield.
With robust No 8 Antoine Claassen and skipper Francois van der Merwe leading the charge, Goosen missed a touchline penalty after a high tackle by France lock Pascal Pape.
But Racing's pressure finally told, promising winger Teddy Thomas -- in line to make his France debut in the November Tests -- breaking away but slipping with the line a-begging.
From the resulting ruck Dumoulin, whose form is keeping barn-storming Welshman Jamie Roberts out of the side, scythed through a stretched Stade defence for a try Goosen converted to hand Racing the lead.
Arias fumbled with Stade threatening and Plisson then sent a third penalty wide of the posts as the game struggled to find its rhythm and became increasingly tetchy.
Heerden sent Racing flanker Bernard Le Roux to the sin-bin for a tip tackle, Plisson this time hitting the penalty to restore Stade's lead.
When Goosen's drop-goal came back off the posts, impressive Fijian centre Waisale Nayacalevu seized on the ball and set off towards Racing territory.
Tripping over himself, Nayacalevu saw Sergio Parisse on hand to link up with Julien Dupuy who spun it right to Arias to jink his way into the corner, with Van Heerden turning to the video referee to help make the decision.
Dupuy missed the extras but hit a penalty on the stroke of half-time after Racing skipper Van der Merwe was yellow-carded for a ruck infringement, leaving the hosts 17-7 up.
Stade opened the second period looking to put their cross-city neighbours out of sight, Nayacalevu spilling the ball as they pressed.
Former Leicester player Dupuy bagged his third penalty in the 58th minute, but Racing hit back in style against the run of play, Goosen breaking around Scott Lavalla to scoot in for a try he converted to keep his side in the hunt.
Racing replacement fly-half Dambielle missed a penalty with nine minutes to play, but guaranteed a nerve-racking finish when he was on hand to round off some great handling for a try.
He missed the conversion but Plisson nailed a late penalty to ensure Stade held on to capital pride.
Source: AFP