Toulon has big scares but wins against Racing 92, its pet peeve

2023-11-13 00:21:30

By the editorial staff

Published 17 minutes ago, Updated 1 minute ago

Gaël Fickou caught in the Toulon vise. CHRISTOPHE SIMON / AFP

The Varois won against the Ile-de-France residents (31-26), in Mayol, at the end of the 6th day of the Top 14.

At the end of the 6th day of the Top 14, Rugby Club Toulonnais won against Racing 92 (31-26), not without causing some scares. While they were well ahead in the score and offered dynamic and efficient rugby (23-7 at the break), the Varois collapsed on the hour mark when they led 31-7 in the 59th minute. Pierre Mignoni’s players then conceded three tries, including two from the Englishman Henry Arundell who scored a hat-trick in this match. The RCT managed to limit the damage and win against its bête noire, who had won at Mayol for the last two seasons.

Successful first half for Mayol residents

While the Racingmen had had an almost ideal start to the season so far, recording four victories in five matches, the Ciel et Blanc fell from a height in the first act. The Toulonnais, revenge after their defeat in Perpignan last weekend, scored two tries at the start of the match. In the ninth minute, the “big guys” scored a strong try, the Samoan Alainu’uese finishing the work of his teammates (9th). If Serin missed the transformation, he did however score a penalty a few minutes later (18th). In the process, Spring, the Ile-de-France fullback, conceded a throw-in which Lolesio quickly played for his scrum half. Serin therefore scored the RCT’s second try, which this time he converted (20th), adding three points after a new penalty (32′). Very undisciplined, Gaël Fickou’s teammates finally reacted thanks to the first try in his new colors from English winger Arundell (transformed by Le Garrec, 37th). But following Diallo’s yellow card, the Rouge et Noir scored one last try after the siren, following a nice dive from Dréan (43rd).

Racing reacted too late

While Racing had to react quickly to hope to return to the score, it was the locals who scored again after returning from the locker room. On the receiving end of a Waisea kick, Tuicuvu performed a veritable balancing act along the touchline before flattening. The gap between the two teams even increased to 24 points after a penalty from Lolesio (60th). These were the last points scored by the RCT. Arundell, in great form, scored a double following a good play at the foot of Gibert (61st) before the Racingmen noticed three minutes later. After a long sequence of pick and go, Laclayat collapsed in the Toulon goal (64th). No time to rest for the Ciel et Blanc, since Arundell scored a hat-trick a few moments later (69th), after his team’s ball rose more than 80 meters. But Tedder’s transformation signed the last two points scored by the Ile-de-France residents. In a tense end to the match, the Toulonnais managed to win, Lolesio blasting Mayol after clearing into touch.