Racing 92 was scared until the last minute against La Rochelle, this Sunday afternoon at Paris-La Défense Arena in Nanterre (Hauts-de-Seine).
At the end of this late match of the 14th day of the Top 14, the Ile-de-France residents clinch a precious victory at home (26-22) but remain third in the standings.
The Rochelais are still 2nd thanks to a better point difference.
The match: a lesson in realism
Despite an excellent start to the match (10-0 in the fifth minute), Racing 92 quickly found themselves suffocated against the Maritimes, reinforced by the return of their third line New Zealand Victor Vito after four months of absence.
Thanks to the kicks of their opener Antoine Gibert, the Ile-de-France residents finished the first period with an 11 point lead (16-5).
When they got back from the locker room, they took off with a try from Dominic Bird and led 23-5.
But visitors do not admit defeat thanks to paid coaching.
Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Martin Alonso, two entrants, scored in quick succession a try to return to 23-22 with a quarter of an hour from the end of the match.
Unfortunately for La Rochelle, Ihaia West misses 3 of the 4 transformations.
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In the 70th minute, Antoine Gibert gives air to his people with a fourth penalty which is added to his two transformations.
The Ile-de-France residents resist the assaults of the Rochelais (who will leave with the defensive bonus) and notably slow down a final breakthrough by Pierre Boudehent at the very last minute.
The player: Antoine Gibert
The talents at the foot of the opening half were essential in the victory of Racing 92. From the start of the match, it was he who found the touch that allowed Baubigny to open the scoring.
The 23-year-old opener repeats the operation early in the second half to bring Bird's try.
He transforms the two and completes his clear round with four precious penalties that relieve the Parisians, in great difficulty in the game.
2002 x 1997 = 🔥 # R92SR #RacingFamily pic.twitter.com/vdnZ9tULU0
- Racing 92 (@ racing92) February 7, 2021
The number: 85
85 seconds, or 1 minute and 25 seconds.
This is the time it took hooker Teddy Baubigny to find the loophole in La Rochelle's defense and thus register the fastest test of the Top 14 season.
MATCH SHEET
Top 14 - Matchday 14 (late match)
In Nanterre: Racing 92-La Rochelle, 26-22 (half-time: 16-5).
Referee
: M. Poite.
Dots :
Racing 92:
2 tries from Baubigny (2nd) and Bird (43rd), 2 conversions and 4 penalties from Gibert (5th, 32nd, 40th + 1, 72nd).
La Rochelle:
4 tries from Vito (19th), Boudehent (55th), Kerr-Barlow (64th) and Alonso (67th), 1 transformation from West (55th).
Temporary exclusion.
Racing 92: Klemenczak (14th).
Racing 92
: Zebo - Taofifenua, Klemenczak, Chavancy, Imhoff (Dupichot, 41st) - (o) Gibert, (m) Le Garrec (Machenaud, 63rd) - Diallo (Palu, 70th), Tanga Mangene (Chouzenoux, 63rd), Lauret - Bird, Palu (L. Jones, 54th) - Gomes Sa (Kharaishvili, 51st), Baubigny (Le Guen, 54th), Ben Arous (Gogichashvili, 54th).
Entr.
:
Through.
La Rochelle
: Leyds - Favre, Sinzelle, Botia (Alonso, 62nd, Pi. Boudehent, 68th), Rhule - (o) West, (m) Berjon (Kerr-Barlow, 48th) - Pa. Boudehent, Vito, Bourdeau (Gourdon , 71st) - Leroux (Tanguy, 48th), Sazy - Joly (Atonio, 48th), F. Bosch (Lagrange, 64th), Wardi (Priso, 62nd).
Entr.
:
Gibbes.