Springboks' Etzebeth returns in Toulon's win at Racing
South Africa's Rugby World Cup winner Eben Etzebeth made his return from concussion in Toulon's 29-23 victory at Racing 92 in the French Top 14 on Sunday.
Etzebeth missed more than four weeks of action after suffering a head knock in the European Cup win over Sale on December 12.
The visitors move up to fourth in the standings, three points behind the third-placed Parisians who lost for a second time at home this campaign.
Racing, the 2016 champions, made eight changes from the win at Clermont two weeks ago as Australia full-back Kurtley Beale was among those to return.
Etzebeth's selection was one of six changes by visiting coach Patrice Collazo as they eyed just a second success on the road this season.
The away side deservedly led 17-3 after an entertaining first quarter as Swann Rebbadj and Baptise Serin made the most of their early dominance.
Virimi Vakatawa, one of 14 members of France's Six Nations squad in the teams at the La Defense Arena, wasted a golden chance to score for Racing after Gabin Villiere knocked the ball out his hands while in the opposition in-goal area after 21 minutes.
Vakatawa's outfit led 20-17 with a minute of the half to go as Wenceslas Lauret and Teddy Thomas crossed before Louis Carbonel kicked a penalty to bring the teams level at the break.
Maxine Machenaud and Carbonel, also in les Bleus set-up for the Six Nations, traded penalties and Collazo's men led 29-23 with five inutes left.
The Champions Cup finalists pressed on in the closing moments but their scrum, 10 metres out with less than three minutes to go, was penalised.
Scrum-half Serin cleared his lines for the win, a first win at Racing since 2012.
- Saint-Andre's situation -
Earlier, Montpellier centre Arthur Vincent said his side were in trouble after Tonga's Ma'amai Vaipulu scored late in Castres' 21-19 win at the GGL Stadium.
Substitute back-rower Vaipulu crossed with eight minutes to play to leave the billionaire backed Montpellier, who replaced sacked Xavier Garbajosa with former France head coach Philippe Saint-Andre earlier this month, in the relegation play-off spot and without a victory since December 4.
"Obviously there's worry when you lose again, especially at home," France's Vincent told Canal+.
"It's a very serious situation, and we all know that.
"We have to keep a good attitude, it's difficult. We're not dead yet, we still have to fight."
On Saturday, Jean-Pascal Barraque's first penalty goal in more than four years took Clermont to fourth in the table with a 16-16 draw at Bordeaux-Begles.
Elsewhere, Australia full-back Jesse Mogg made his first appearance since April 2019 after recovering from a shin injury in Pau's 23-22 win at Bayonne.