2023-06-04 04:21:15
From Paris to Saint-Denis, from Jean-Bouin to the Stade de France, there is now a hook through Saint-Sébastien where Racing will face Toulouse on Friday. The Ciel et Blancs removed the derby and dismissed a too messy Stade Français this Saturday afternoon (20-33) in a festive atmosphere.
A full stadium in Paris is not common in rugby. It is even very rare. This last meeting at Jean-Bouin was a bit like a last chance, in many respects. A grand parade, the pursuit of an adventure, or a farewell. A way also for an audience to give voice not far from Roland-Garros, draining the crowds from the Porte d’Auteuil. This excitement in the stands was felt on the lawn heated by a summer sun.
Racing, a lame duck
The Parisians, probably a little too excited, were first picked cold. Third line Marcos Kremer, guilty of clearing the head of Ile-de-France opener Finn Russell, was given a red card (6th) which changed the game just as sharply. From dominated, the Sky and White became dominant, planting two tries by Imhoff (10th) and Lauret (19th) and settling comfortably and quietly at the controls (3-17, 26th). But Racing, this season, is a lame duck struggling in the showdowns. Stade Français took advantage of this, pounding their opponent until they were suffocated. Sekou Macalou, at the exit of a maul (33rd), then yet another scrum collapsed by Racing five meters from his line and converted into a penalty try six minutes after the siren, sent the two teams back to back to the locker room (17-17).
While it seemed to have done the hardest by picking up the score, the Stade Français strangely withered on its return to the lawn, as often in recent weeks. Less impactful, less enterprising, he left the initiative to his opponent, multiplying the faults. Finn Russel did not miss his chances and the Ile-de-France residents found themselves shortly before the hour mark almost safe from a bad surprise (17-26, 55th). The final attempts, desperate but too static and over the phone, did not change the face of the third derby of the season (the Parisians had won at Nanterre 48-10 on December 24 and the Ciel et Blancs had taken their revenge at Jean- Bouin on March 26). Gaël Fickou, author of a last-second try, and his partners are still far from being champions of France, but they are already kings of Paris.
Dots
Stade Français: 2 tries from Macalou (33rd), penalty (40th +6), 1 conversion from Segonds (33rd), 2 penalties from Segonds (17th, 69th).
Racing 92: 3 tries from Imhoff (10th), Lauret (19th), Fickou (80th), 3 conversions from Gibert (10th, 19th), Russell (80th), 4 penalties from Russell (26th, 44th, 52nd, 55th).
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