Howls in the silence.
It was enough to hear Yannick Nyanga bawl to understand that Racing 92 was passing an important test this Saturday evening at the Mayol stadium.
The sporting director of Ciel et Blanc was tense.
He returned to Nanterre disappointed: Racing 92 lost 25-21 on the lawn of RC Toulon.
It is an end of the series after four consecutive victories.
It is above all proof that the Ile-de-France residents are still missing something in the race for the Brennus shield.
The Toulonnais were tough in the league, with three losses in the last four games.
Their supporters have expressed their dissatisfaction after an infamous setback against Bayonne, penultimate in the championship.
But the Var have benefited for this shock against Racing from many returns, especially those of five French internationals.
The Baptiste Serin - Louis Carbonel hinge has thus enabled the RCT to regain its balance and creativity.
Racing for its part recorded the return of Virimi Vakatawa, healed earlier than expected of his left knee injury.
He could also find the France team before the Crunch against England next Saturday.
The former septist was up and running.
He was, throughout the match, the most dangerous of the Racingmen.
He scored the first try of the meeting, in the 8th minute, at the conclusion of a great collective movement.
20 points per foot for Carbonel
The Ciel et Blancs made their speed speak for this action, as if they had a good sequence in the 53rd.
This time it was Bernard Le Roux who flattened after a scrum.
Virimi Vakatawa had once again been the main animator of this long highlight of the Ile-de-France residents within 22 meters of the Toulonnais.
But Louis Carbonel allowed the Var to stay ahead throughout the second half.
The international opening half was ruthless and perfectly sanctioned the indiscipline of Racing 92. Carbonel scored twenty points at the foot and signed another clear round against the poles.
However, he tried complicated penalties.
It is another young international, Gabin Villière, who scored the only Toulon test, in the 14th, after a penalty quickly played by Baptiste Serin.
The winger trained in Rouen also saved his team in the 59th, by scratching a test ball in the arms of Yoan Tanga.
Virimi Vakatawa was, once again, at the origin of this Ile-de-France counter-attack.
The end of the match was animated by the penalties of Maxime Machenaud, who lived his 200th game in the sky and white jersey.
The suspense was immense until the end.
The disappointment will only be greater.
