'It's frustrating' - Finn Russell reacts after Racing 92's Champions Cup exit

Racing 92 fly-half Finn Russell expressed frustration over his side's exit from the Heineken Champions Cup that came following a 13-20 defeat against La Rochelle last weekend.

The two teams were separated by just two points at end of the opening half after Virimi Vakatawa touched down for Racing while Gregory Alldritt crossed over for La Rochelle.

Nevertheless, the game changed on it's head after Camille Chat and Cedate Gomes were sin-binned in the 51st and 52nd minutes respectively with the second also resulting in a penalty try for La Rochelle to make it 13-15.

Even though Racing did well not to concede any further point despite two players less, they could not quite get the breakthrough in the remainder of the game and instead Ihia West touched down for La Rochelle in the closing stage to steer them to the final for a second successive season.

"We didn't go in at half-time as far ahead as we wanted," Russell told BT Sport following the game.

"Second half we had a couple of chances, we didn't manage to finish them off. Off their driving maul, we got two yellow cards, they score a penalty try. It was a frustrating game.

"For most of the game I'd say we were the better team but in knock-out rugby it's the team that has the most points at the end that is the better team, effectively.

"It's frustrating for us. We put everything into this tournament and we've come up short.

"For us we've got to get straight back into the league next week. We'll look at Europe again next year but that will come next saeson. We'll review the game but we've got to get straight back into next week away to Montpellier and try to win the Top 14 now."