2 April 2010: Toulouse survive tough test to overhaul battling Racing in the final quarter, but the Parisians pick up a vital point in their fight for sixth place

Toulouse 28 Racing-Metro 23 - Latest league table

Toulouse confirmed their place in the French Championship play-offs with a hard-fought 28-23 win over Racing-Metro on Friday night.

Racing's visit south wasn't without its benefits, as a late Andrew Mehrtens penalty earned a bonus point that puts the Parisians eight points clear of seventh-placed Biarritz ahead of the pair's vital clash in two weeks' time.

The visitors held the lead after just two of the 80 minutes, Mehrtens kicking a second-minute drop goal after a break by hooker Olivier Diomandé to the Toulouse 22.

Just two minutes later Toulouse took the lead, Cedric Heymans finding the gap on the halfway line to set up an attacking base in the Racing 22. Finally, David Skrela found Clement Poitrenaud with a looping pass and the full back raced in under the posts.

Skrela converted but missed a long-range penalty before succeeding from 15 metres to make it 10-3 after 11 minutes. The hosts had a golden chance to make it 15-3 a minute later after another Poitrenaud break, but Kelleher saw the ball bounce into touch just yards from the line.

Sebastien Chabal made an impact with a trademark charge on 20 minutes, and after a period of pressure from the visitors Mehrtens kicked a superb touchline penalty on 29 minutes. He missed an identical chance three minutes later, but an offence by Yoann Maestri gave him the chance to make amends, and he kicked his third goal to make it 10-9 at the interval.

Toulouse came out of the changing rooms stronger for the arrival of Maxime Medard, and Poitrenaud came to within inches of scoring his second try just two minutes in. In any case the attack gave Skrela an easy penalty chance, which he took for 13-9.

The second try did come a minute later, Maestri chipping ahead, Racing winger Julien Saubade hesitating to take the bouncing ball and the lock racing through to touch down.

After their efforts, it seemed harsh on Racing to be 18-9 down, but Mehrtens closed the gap with another 40-metre penalty, and when Yannick Jauzion saw yellow on 54 minutes, Mehrtens stepped up to kick the goal and make it 18-15.

It got better for the visitors when South African flanker Bernard le Roux put countryman Jacques Cronje into space on the touchline. The flanker shook off Shaun Sowerby to score and give Racing a 20-18 lead, but the Parisians lost the advantage when Jerome Fillol came round the wrong side of a ruck and gave Skrela the chance to make it 21-20 to Toulouse.

Le Roux was lucky to avoid a yellow card when he committed the same offence three minutes later, and was doubly lucky that Skrela missed the resulting penalty. With five minutes on the clock, Toulouse appeared to have the game won when Skrela put a grubber through for Jauzion, only for the Toulouse centre and Racing's Francois Steyn to miss the ball and watch replacement flanker Jean Bouilhou collect and score.

Skrela converted to give the hosts a 28-20 lead, but there was one twist left, especially for watching Biarritz fans, as a Toulouse player handled on the floor and Mehrtens stepped up to kick the penalty and earn a vital bonus point.

Racing have two weeks to prepare for the showdown with Biarritz, who have a tough Heineken Cup tie at home to the Ospreys next Saturday. For Toulouse, they are likely to fall to fifth by Saturday night, and will want to finish top four to guarantee a home play-off.