Racing 92, with the return of its internationals Camille Chat, Virimi Vakatawa and Bernard La Roux, dominated a Bayonnaise team (43-17) very reworked and slow at the start, Sunday in Nanterre during the 10th day of Top 14. Grace with this enhanced success, the Ile-de-France club provisionally climbs back to fourth place six lengths behind the leader, La Rochelle, but with one game less.
Laurent Travers' men scored seven tries, including a hat-trick from Donovan Taofifenua.
The young 21-year-old winger pushed the engines to the limit on his left side before heading towards Marcoussis and the Blues, to prepare for the final of the Autumn Nations Cup against England (December 6 in London).
At the end of the first period, the meeting happily shifted to the side of the Racingmen.
They had already scored four tries against just one for Aviron Bayonnais who rowed to enter the game, delayed by one hour due to a transport problem.
Was it the delay of their flight that disturbed the Basques?
Or are it the many changes made compared to their success against Toulon (35-29)?
Coach Yannick Bru made twelve rotations in his XV, leaving several executives to rest, such as his striker Gaëtan Germain and one of his best test scorers Joe Ravouvou.
And it was seen on the synthetic turf of the Arena!
The Basques, however, reacted at the very end of the first period by Arthur Duhau, at the reception in the in-goal of a cross kick from his opener Manuel Ordas.
They resisted Racing 92 much better in the second half, even outnumbered after a yellow card for Izaia Perese.
But the Racingmen hit the nail on the head through Donovan Taofifenua strangely alone on his left lane, who flattened twice in the second half.
And by Australian Kurtley Beale.
Full-back Aymeric Luc reduced the score in the meantime, scoring his fifth try of the season.
But the gap was already too big.
Racing 92 signs their fourth victory in six matches - including two defeats with bonuses - since the end of October and the start of the international period.
A good record while the Ile-de-France club had to compose without many internationals.
Eleven were put to contribution for the XV of France, matches and preparation combined.
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