Racing 92 played big in this 22nd day of the Top 14 against Union Bordeaux-Bègles. Overtake your opponent of the day, find one of the 6 qualifying places for the final stages, and seduce the ch’ti public in a Bollaert stadium more accustomed to football than to rugby. After missing everything, he miraculously managed everything, winning an unexpected and improved success at the very last minute (31-28).
However, everything had started badly. This cool and windy Saturday afternoon in the Pas-de-Calais was not a good promotion for the oval ball in a region where it must fight to exist against the round ball. Not only because the match started with a curious first quarter of an hour, without video refereeing and filmed in a wide shot because of a social movement by audiovisual technicians.
This high-stakes match initially paralyzed the Racingmen, who multiplied the errors in the first period. Heckled in the scrum and on the balls carried, throws not straight into touch (Tarrit 24th), balls kept on the ground (Spring 30th), forwards (Habosi 34th)… Another desperate illustration of this first half mush : Cameron Woki, in a new position of number 8, who sends a brick to Nolann Le Garrec who goes forward (23rd)…
In this game, UBB, in the wake of inspired Maxime Lucu, plays with the handbrake a little looser than Racing. And turns largely in the lead at the break (3-12), thanks to the success at the foot of his international scrum half, passed to the opening after the injury of Zack Holmes.
Six changes at once
Returning from the locker room, after Pierre Bachelet’s Corons intoned by Bollaert (best moment of the match so far), it was a Girondin with the surname of Ch’ti, Nicolas Depoortere, who smashed the Ciel et Blancs by scoring a try after a breakthrough by Ducuing in a beleaguered defense (3-19, 45′).
In the stands, the Racing staff rumbles. Punches on the table and loud voices echo in a sparse Bollaert stadium. The solution is radical: six changes at once, including the entire front row and the Scottish artist Finn Russell at the opening.
The impact is immediate. Gaël Fickou, back after his Six Nations Tournament, signs the test of revolt, after a ghostly first period. The regional of the stage, Anthime Hemery, imitates him a few moments later. Racing returned to the game (17-19, 54th). Before being put back at a good distance by the boot of Lucu, again, which punishes Ile-de-France faults in the scrum (17-25, 65th).
Gibert’s try in the last ten minutes offers Bollaert’s public, in the absence of a great rugby match, a suspenseful final. Returning to one point, the Ciel et Blancs collapsed again in closed scrum and let Lucu, author of a clear round, seal, it is believed, the fate of Racing in the Top 14 (17-28, 79th). Until this final scraped ball, a penalty, and a penalty try awarded by the referee. Victory by KO in the country of the Corons.
Dots
Racing 92 – UBB 31-28
Half-time: 3-12.
Racing 92. 4 tries (Fickou 47th, Hemery 53rd, Gibert 72nd, penalty). 3 conversions (Russell 48th, 54th, 73rd). 1 penalty (Gibert 37th). 1 yellow card (Ben Arous 65th).
UBB. 1 try (Depoortere 44th). 1 conversion (Lucu 45th). 7 penalties (Lucu 5th, 27th, 31st, 40th, 56th, 65th; 79th). 1 yellow card (Moefana 60th).