Tops
Toulon picks up at the right time
Under pressure after the success of Lyon in Bayonne (20-28) and Stade Français against Agen (40-21), the RCT knew they were in danger against Racing, the best away team in the championship.
Especially since the RCT remained on two consecutive defeats at home.
But the pass of three will wait.
Capitalizing on a penalty, Toulon managed to win with a short but precious header, to consolidate its place in the Top 6.
A hinge changes everything
It was one of the big questions of the meeting: would Baptiste Serin and Louis Carbonel manage to influence the match for the return to the club?
They quickly provided the answer.
First thanks to an excellent Serin in the animation and at the origin of the only test of the RCT, registered by… another international, Gabin Villière (14th).
Was then illustrated Louis Carbonel, author of a 100% at the foot (7/7) and close to the decisive pass on the test finally refused to Du Plessis (21st).
The Toulon opener was also logically elected man of the match, scoring alone 80% of the points scored by the RCT on Saturday in Mayol (20pts).
You elected @LouisCarbonel, Toulonnais of the meeting # RCTR92pic.twitter.com / mUjCGwpBrB
- RCT - RC Toulon (@RCTofficiel) March 6, 2021
Vakatawa in international form
Away from the field since last January, Virimi Vakatawa has made a remarkable comeback on Mayol's lawn.
The Ile-de-France center was the most dangerous Racingman on Saturday, constantly finding lags and managing to beat defenders on each of his interval catches.
He scored the first try of the meeting (8th) and returned to peak, a few days before the trip of the XV of France on the lawn of Twickenham to challenge England ...
Flops
Racing misses the right shot
A missed shot.
Never really worried in the defensive phase and sharp in the offensive phase, Racing could have made the big blow on the lawn of Mayol.
"We are very disappointed, we came here to win," confided Bernard Le Roux after the meeting at the microphone of Canal +.
But the Sky and White will have missed the boat, sanctioned for their indiscipline and failing 4 lengths of an RCT in need of victories on its land.
With 27 points taken out of its bases this season, Racing 92 is still continuing its fine harvest far from its land.
The Ile-de-France club has never returned empty-handed from its travels this season and will be satisfied with this point taken on Saturday in Mayol: it allows it to regain second place (59pts) at the expense of Stade Rochelais, beaten in Castres (22-15) .
The first period marred by the scrums
This is the black point of the first period.
The scrums were the scene of all kinds of stammerings, slowing down the sustained pace of the start of the match.
A penalty on one side, a broken arm on the other and vice versa… Mr. Brousset had nevertheless warned before taking action, inflicting a yellow card on Setiano and Ben Arous for repeated faults in the sector (20th).
But nothing will have helped, the two teams never really managing to correct the situation.
Result?
An indigestible first half and a small score of 13 to 8 at the break.
Iribaren without idea
Often very good in the animation and reliable at the foot, Teddy Iribaren lived an evening without face in Toulon.
Apart from the test flattened by Vakatawa at the start of the match (8th), the scrum-half from Brive did not really know how to influence the meeting.
Worse, he dropped five points at the foot in the first act, missing a conversion and a penalty.
Five points lacking in Ciel et Blanc, beaten 25-21.
He was replaced by Machenaud (48th), more comfortable in the game as against the poles (3/3).
We will also note the disappointing performance of Simon Zebo at the rear.
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