For the Racingmen, it was a question of not thinking too much after the ugly setback conceded at home against Toulon, last Sunday (23-29).
Because against UBB, sixth at kickoff and three matches without loss in Top 14 (two wins, one draw), Laurent Travers' men knew that they would be stuck with a big chunk on Saturday at Paris La Defense Arena.
What you must remember
Fortunately, the Parisians delivered a more serious first period than what they had proposed six days ago, and we will not complain.
An act where Maxime Machenaud and Matthieu Jalibert proposed a nice scorers duel (each 5 out of 5 at the foot).
But it was the Australian Scott Higginbotham, trickster on an intercepted pass from Machenaud, who launched this rhythmic meeting (17th, 6-13).
Very quickly, Juan Imhoff answered him with a breakthrough in the Bordeaux defense (20th, 13-13), his third try of the season.
Before Wenceslas Lauret allows the Racingmen to pass in front (22nd, 20-13) in a first disjointed period, where the two teams answered tit for tat.
Like Cameron Woki, who came to flatten at the right corner just before the siren (23-23) for Bordelais led by an exemplary Jalibert.
The international opener once again flaunted his whole class to hook Finn Russell and conclude in the in-goal (52nd, 23-30).
And despite the burning foot of Machenaud, author of a perfect 7 out of 7 over the whole match, Racing ended up cracking in the finish, the UBB not letting any opportunity to score points escape although deprived of the ball.
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And it was finally the kick of Maxime Lucu that tipped this duel, ended in the tension, in favor of the Bordelais (69th, 32-33).
Laurent Travers' men, who could have won without the post hit by Kurtley Beale on a final penalty (77th), keep their place on the podium, but concede a second setback, which is a spot against a direct competitor in the Top 6. For Bordeaux, the operation is good: UBB is now fourth, three points behind its opponent of the day.
# TOP14 # R92UBB - J19
The @ UBBrugby takes revenge against @ racing92 and wins, like last year, on the lawn of the Paris La Défense Arena 😮🍷 pic.twitter.com/uQ0cWaEc13
- TOP 14 Rugby (@ top14rugby) January 23, 2021
The injury: Vakatawa's knee turns
He will only be on the lawn for eleven minutes.
But Virimi Vakatawa couldn't contain his pain, after his left ankle was planted on the ground and his knee was roughly turned.
Bad news for the Sky and White and the XV of France, two weeks before his trip to Italy to open the Six Nations Tournament - if he were to argue.
He tried to hold out for four or five minutes, seriously strapped in, but without success.
Vakatawa had to give way to Simon Zebo.
Author of a ball against Toulon, the three-quarters center worries.
The number: 3
Racing 92 is already losing for the third time at home this season, after Toulouse (24-30) and Toulon (23-29).
For Christophe Urios' UBB, on the other hand, it is a third success away from home, after Castres (29-30) and Montpellier (22-23).