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Henry Chavancy: "Racing is coming of age"

2020-10-15T14:48:53.623Z


After two failures in the final in 2016 and 2018, the iconic three-quarter center of Racing 92 hopes that Saturday, against Exeter, the third time will be the right one.


How did this week of preparation go in Corsica?

Henry Chavancy:

It's necessarily a special week.

The staff decided to go and isolate themselves a bit in Corsica to prepare for this final.

We benefit from being all together, being able to focus only on this final.

I think it's a good thing to be able to prepare as much as possible for what will await us on Saturday, namely a very complicated match against a great team from Exeter.

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Between the cases of Covid, isolation in a hotel, then the week of preparation in Corsica, you had 15 days a little complicated.

How have you been living these past few weeks?


A fortnight ago, we had a few cases (nine, Editor's note) which upset the plans a little.

But now, we have a week in Corsica, I think there is worse to prepare for a match.

Everything is going well today, all the tests turned out negative so now we are fully focused on this final.

There is no problem, we were able to train well this week, especially today (Thursday).

After the test results, we were able to have a great session with a lot of intensity.

We prepared well.

"For me, winning the title in Pro D2 and in the European Cup with the same club would really have a special flavor"

As a historic Racing player, do you feel the expectation that there is in Racing around this European title?


This is something that we have been looking for for a few years.

We have the opportunity on Saturday to clinch this first victory in the European Cup.

This is the goal of all of us.

We know it will be very difficult against Exeter, who will be looking for exactly the same thing as us.

We expect an extremely difficult game on their territory.

But we will do everything to win our first European title.

12 or 13 years ago we were still in the second division.

For me, winning the title in Pro D2 and the European Cup with the same club would really have a special flavor.

Last week, you were back from injury, you played about twenty minutes against Toulouse.

How do you feel ?


I feel very good.

It was important to be able to come back last week to be able to “match” with the group and come back to give me some playing time. With a lot of work still this week, I feel very good, 100%, ready to go. give everything on Saturday.

This will be your third Champions Cup final.

What do you take away from the first two?


Every detail counts, nothing should be overlooked.

It can be played on a small mistake, a small mistake.

We saw it in 2018 against Leinster where we were leading 5 minutes from the end and we took two penalties which made us lose the match.

We really worked very hard so that this time the details were in our favor and that the result was in our favor.

“Exeter is the most formidable English team at the moment.

We know what to expect.

They are very effective in the opposing 22m ”

Unlike the other two finals, you have no important players injured this year ...


It is true that in 2016 and 2018 we had a lot of hard knocks in terms of injuries.

Whether before matches or during.

Here we arrive with a full squad and it must have been difficult for the staff to make choices.

It's a good sign.

What does this Exeter team inspire you?


It is the most formidable English team currently.

It's a team that plays extremely well, whether it's in front or behind.

We know what to expect.

They are very effective in the opposing 22m, they play the penalties quickly.

We also know that we have a lot of strengths on our side to assert.

And we hope to ride them on Saturday.

The semi-final against the Saracens had been padlocked, without much rhythm.

There, it may be the opposite with a lot of play and movement ...


These are the characteristics of this Exeter team.

We expect everything.

We were able against Clermont (in the quarter-finals) to put a lot of pace and play. Against the Saracens, the scenario was different.

But we got away with them.

Today, we are a mature team and I hope we can prove it on Saturday.

Interview by videoconference

Read also

  • Champions Cup: why we must believe in the victory of Racing 92

Source: lefigaro

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