This is called a nice reaction. A week after missing the opportunity to win a sixth success in a row in the Top 14 by losing to Lyon (29-20), Racing 92 recovered well by winning with the bonus against a team from La Rochelle completely exceeded (49-0). The Hauts-de-Seine club takes third place.
The game
It must have been a shock from the top of the table. He turned to the demonstration. Without Teddy Thomas, Virimi Vakatawa or Bernard Le Roux, retained in the French team, Racing 92 crushed La Rochelle, semi-finalist of the Top 14 last season but completely irrelevant this time. More aggressive, sharper, but also much more applied, the men of Laurent Travers gave a lesson to another contender in the final stages.
There was no need to summon the rugby experts to see who was the strongest Saturday afternoon. The Racingmen have done almost everything against spectators from La Rochelle. A quick test in force concluded by Teddy Baubigny (7th), two others on interceptions to kill the match (16th), (40th) in the first period. Even heavier price after the break where La Rochelle saw the Racingmen inflict four tries on them by Klemenczak (44th), Sanconnie (60th), Machenaud (72nd) or Kolingar (78th). Without ever taking your head out of the hole.
Man of the Match: Finn Russell
His over-watered evening with the Scottish selection deprived him of the Six Nations Tournament, but Racing 92 will not complain. Author of a try and several kicks, Finn Russell perfectly guided the game of his partners in a match where the opening half was never really under pressure.
Finn Russell intercepts a pass from @Jules_plisson and files to register the second try of @ racing92
The Parisians lead 15-0 after 1/4 of an hour of play against @staderochelais # R92SR live on CANAL + and on our 100% channel @ top14rugby
➡️ https://t.co/wuOKTxGaM1 pic.twitter.com/GgWZZ3va5M
The tile: the injured
It is the black point of this victory of Racing 92. In a first period where they walked, the Ile-de-France lost three players in ten minutes. First to leave its partners in the 32nd minute, the New Zealand second line Dominic Bird, hit in the calf. Five minutes later, Baptiste Chouzenoux, victim of a concussion, went out.
And just before the break, François Trinh-Duc had to leave his partners after serving grimacing Laborde for the third try. The tile for the 2011 World Cup finalist, returned to the field in December after four months of stoppage. Finally, it was the Irishman Simon Zebo, back after two months of absence, who left nine minutes after entering.
Racing 92 - La Rochelle: 49-0
Half-time: 25-0
Spectators: 17,856.
Racing 92: seven tests from Baubigny (7th), Russell (16th), Laborde (40th), Klemenczak (44th), Sanconnie (60th), Machenaud (72nd), Kolingar (78th); two Iribaren penalties (14th, 29th); four transformations of Iribaren (17th, 40th) and Machenaud (61st, 72nd.)
Racing 92: Dulin (Zebo, 65th, Dulin, 74th) - Laborde, Klemenczak (Iribaren, 77th), Trinh-Duc (Volavola, 40th), Imhoff - (o) Russell, (m) Iribaren (Machenaud, 53rd) - Chouzenoux (Ryan, 37th), Claassen, Lauret - Bird (Sanconnie, 32nd), Palu - Tameifuna (Gomes Sa, 57th), Baubigny (Le Guen, 61st), Ben Arous (Kolingar, 57th).
Coach: Laurent Travers.
La Rochelle: West (Murimurivalu, 74th) - Retière, Sinzelle, Aguillon, Roudil (Andreu, 67th) - (o) Plisson (West, 77th), (m) Kerr-Barlow - Gourdon, Vito, Botia (Kieft, 41st) - Tanguy (Leroux, 67th), Lavault (Bourdeau, 41st) - Atonio (Joly, 57th), Bosch (Orioli, 57th), Wardi (Priso, 47th).
Coach: Ronan O'Gara.