In Paris La Défense Arena,
A regular on the European roller coaster.
Racing 92 qualified on Sunday for its fourth consecutive quarter-final in the Champions Cup, by throwing Edinburgh (56-3) in its Arena in Nanterre.
In the absence of several executives, in particular that of their playing master, the Scottish Finn Russell (suspended), the Ile-de-France residents had launched in the great young people of the region (the opener Gibert, the third lines Joseph and Diallo), but the performance of the team was not affected.
Far from there.
Without calculating, the two teams were the match with good attacking intentions.
The Scots were the first to draw and thought they had scored by Johnstone (3rd), but a forward had come to spoil this opportunity.
But they did not flounder and were dangerous on each of their initiatives.
The Racingmen held on well in defense and also managed to place a few attacks, but did not materialize them.
Before finding the fault, in force, by Camille Chat, enormous power and energy since the start of the match (10-3, 26th).
Concerns for Henry, Bird and Vakatawa
On this action, the three-quarter center and captain of Racing 92, Henry Chavancy, was seriously injured on the occasion which led to the test of Camille Chat (26th).
The player remained for long minutes lying on the ground in the in-goal, next to the club's healers.
The president of the Ile-de-France club, Jacky Lorenzetti, came to inquire about him, before he was evacuated on a stretcher.
He could have been shot in the shoulder.
In the process, the Ciel et Blanc widened the gap, with a converted try from Maxime Machenaud, at the conclusion of a beautiful movement initiated by Virimi Vakatawa, perfectly extended by Jordan Joseph and Louis Dupichot.
When they returned from the locker room, the Racingmen completely mastered the debates against players from Edinburgh, far too undisciplined and ultimately sterile and disappointing.
Very far from the thrilling and solid performances of the XV du Chardon during the last Six Nations Tournament.
Double Teddy Thomas
A new Racingman was forced to leave the field, New Zealand second row Dominic Bird, after a head-to-head collision with a Scotsman.
New blow?
Not really, since the Hauts-de-Seine club scored a third try, in force, by the promising number 8 Jordan Jospeh, double world champion in the under 20 years.
Before Louis Dupichot does not make the bill a little more difficult (68th).
The concern could however come from Virimi Vakatawa, forced to leave his partners (limping) in stride.
And the demonstration of Ciel et Blanc continued with a double from Teddy Thomas (70th, 77th) and a last try from François Trinh-Duc (80th).
A real correction 56 to 3.
In the end, Racing 92 quietly composted its ticket for the quarter-finals, confirming that it is the most regular team on the European scene in recent seasons.
Unhappy finalist in 2016, 2018 and 2020, the Alto-Sequanese team will have to travel outside - to Bordeaux or Bristol, which face each other at 4 p.m. - to try to win a place in the last continental square.
But it has proven, in Top 14, that it is one of the formations which has the best results outside its bases.
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Round of 16 results