European Rugby Cup: Racing brings down the Saracens and goes to the final

Racing 92 defeated the Indian sign.

While he had never managed to beat the Saracens in a knockout match, the Ile-de-France club struggled to overcome the English this Saturday and secure their ticket for the Champions Cup final, two years later. the previous.

What you must remember :

Finally!

For four years, Racing kept in mind the memory of this cruel defeat in the European Cup final inflicted by the Saracens (21-9).

Which is now only a distant thought, evaporated after a performance worthy of the appointment (19-15) against the winners of three of the last four European editions (2016, 2017 and 2019), this Saturday.

Authors of a perfect start to the season - two wins in the Top 14, another in the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup last Saturday in Clermont (27-36) -, the Ile-de-France residents held the shock of the challenge offered by the Sarries in the semi-finals. final, in front of 1000 people at the Paris-La Défense Arena and under the gaze of opposing master player Owen Farrell, in the stands and suspended after a horrible tackle during a Premiership match.

An English team that has dominated the European scene for six years, and had stifled the Irish ogre Leinster (17-25) in the quarterfinals last week after an impressive performance at the Aviva Stadium.

In front of the break with a short header (9-6) thanks to three penalties from Teddy Iribaren against two for Alex Goode, the Ciel et Blanc showed self-sacrifice to allow themselves this duel padlocked and engaged.

A game of chess that was played with the feet, until the only try of the match, liberator, of the Argentine winger Juan Imhoff (76th).

Laurent Travers' Racingmen, unhappy finalists in 2016 and 2018, have therefore snatched the right to return to the final on October 17, in a location which remains to be determined.

It will be against Exeter or Toulouse, which face off at 4.30 p.m.

The player: insufficient Alex Goode

When two such strong defenses clash, it is often the foot of the scorers that decides a rugby match of this level.

This was the case this Saturday, when the duel between Teddy Iribaren and Alex Goode turned to the advantage of the second.

Unwavering, the England international was narrowly impressive (5/5) and allowed his team to catch up with their short delay after half-time.

But this was insufficient while, the score of Iribaren was almost perfect - 3/4 until his replacement by Maxime Machenaud before the hour mark (2/2 at the foot) - and completed by the 28th European try of Juan Imhoff.

The number: 1

In their confrontation, the two clubs have now met nine times.

So far, Racing 92 had won only twice, each time in the group stage.

The Ile-de-France residents have finally hung on their hunting board their bête noire, which they had never beaten in a knockout match.