Racing left the European Cup by Bordeaux: "We have a bitter taste", loose Travers

“It knocks us out.

“Stunned as at the end of a boxing match by the penalty of winning successful by Matthieu Jalibert, Laurent Travers looks like a bad day.

Coming out of this defeat at the buzzer against Union Bordeaux-Bègles (21-24), this Sunday in the quarter-finals of the European Rugby Cup, the Racing manager can only note the helplessness of his family to fold a match.

"This match, we can win it, we control it and we dominate," he pleaded.

ʀᴇsᴘᴇᴄᴛ 👏 have a

good trip @UBBrugby!

# UBBvR92 pic.twitter.com/5TakgKzTXe

- Racing 92 (@ racing92) April 11, 2021

At the time of the assessment, hot, there are only regrets for the Sky and White.

On the match itself, first of all, especially in the first period.

“9-9 at halftime is well paid for them.

We had the opportunity to score, and we acted with haste, ”says Travers.

In his viewfinder, in particular, the attempts to drop his young opener Antoine Gibert.

“Some came out of the collective a bit by trying individual blows that did not pay off,” he tackles.

“We played less as a team, we had the opportunity to put them in more difficulty.

They were on the verge of breaking up, but never broke down.

We should have been more patient as the end of the goal approached, ”says captain Maxime Machenaud.

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Scrum-half Teddy Iribaren, who replaced Machenaud during the match, points to a “mentally weakened team.

It was a little lacking that extra soul that makes us say that we are going to win.

I didn't feel the energy that we usually have.

The crushing victory against Edinburgh in the previous round (56-3) seems a long way off.

The time has not yet come to settling scores, but we feel that this defeat will leave traces.

Because the European Cup is really the stated objective of the champions of France 2016. Among the favorites each year, the continental coronation always eludes them after three lost finals (2016, 2018 and 2020).

So it won't be for this year either.

"We are disappointed for the whole club," blows Laurent Travers.

A failure all the more hard to swallow since it took place in the quarter-final against a team within the reach of Racing, the UBB that the Ciel et Blancs had beaten on this same lawn of the Chaban-Delmas stadium in January in Top 14. "We know each other by heart," recognizes Christophe Urios, the Bordeaux manager.

We knew that they were going to tighten up with the absences ”.

Deprived of its Virimi Vakatawa and Teddy Thomas arrows, Racing was indeed unable to offer great flights.

Expected on the fight, the Racingmen were taken to their own game. “It was a real showdown, continues Urios.

Sorry for the show, it wasn't amazing.

But these finals matches, we are not here to play them, but to win them.

"

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Will there be a questioning among the Sky and White?

Not immediately, it seems.

"There is always only one champion, so there are always a lot of disappointments," said Laurent Travers, who immediately turned to the championship.

“We are lucky to have a derby next weekend (Editor's note: against Stade Français on April 17 in Top 14).

We have a title to go for, ”recalls Teddy Iribaren.

“We have to face up,” concludes Laurent Travers.

Sport is full of ups and downs, with very intense emotions in both directions.

Today we have a bitter taste.

It's up to us to make sure we don't have it the next time.

"