Bad evening for racing 92. This Friday evening, on the 2nd day of the Champions Cup, the Racingmen were comprehensively beaten by English Sale (29-7). Powerless, Ciel et Blanc even left the offensive bonus point to their opponent of the evening. Despite a reshuffled team, Racing finally wanted to turn the page after the victory against harlequins last week (23-12). The inhabitants of Ile-de-france rekindled their energy with a good start to the match and an occupation to their advantage.
Only the English resist and prove risky in every transition. george Ford’s teammates even restart from 22 meters and push Racing back. But the problem is the same on both sides. One pass,two passes,three passes and the ball is on the ground… Too many handballs for both teams to continue and develop the game.
Racing is therefore trying to proceed with the movements. for the same success: two blocked kicks, another too long, several attackers in the air, nothing smiled at Stuart Lancaster’s players. And right in front of the English, Racing was surprised after two consecutive penalties.
Sale finds himself five meters from goal on a throw-in and Jean-Luc du Preez escapes from a maul to score the first try of the match (19′, 5-0). Still without resolution, the Racingmen were punished a second time for poor defensive positioning. Grouped together on thirty metres,Racing leaves Tedder alone in front of two Englishmen on the other flank. The ball comes out of the scrum, the Sharks move away quickly, Tedder slides on his defensive climb and Tom Roebuck takes advantage of it to score the second try (34′, 12-0).
A reaction without follow-up
Two minutes before half-time Racing finally showed patience and progressed little by little. In the wake of a good charge from Woki, the attackers hit the Sharks’ goal and in the end it was Gogicashvili who found the space to smash the ball at the foot of the posts (40′, 12-7). Enough to move on to another game in the second half? You shouldn’t hope for it, at the risk of being disappointed…
An unexpected save on their line, a missed shot by Camille Chat, a penalty in the scrum… Good start to the second period. Action sanctioned by the Sharks after yet another bad play at the feet of Ciel et Blanc. Gibert attempts a cross with his front foot from his 22 meters wich Roebuck intercepts in front of Springs. The Sharks winger adjusts Gibert perfectly for Carpenter’s try (51′, 19-7).
Reduced to 14 men due to Beaudonne’s booking, Racing conceded a fourth try, scored by Ben Curry (60′) before Dan du Preez kicked a penalty (64′, 29-17) to fully secure this five-point success which launches the European English campaign. Racing, for its part, once again demonstrates its lack of consistency, failing to put together a second victory and therefore remaining stuck on 4 points.
Nolann Le Garrec’s teammates will have to move quickly to forget this affront. To do this,next Saturday (4.30pm), in the Top 14, it will be necessary to face a dangerous trip to Montpellier.