At the end of an intense and airy match in the first period, Racing won in Pau (35-29) and made a big step towards the finals two days from the end.
What you must remember
In the wake of its demonstration last week against Clermont (45-19), Racing decided to let go of the horses in Pau. Its "light" cavalry, led by its trio Fickou, Vakatawa, Thomas, first gave the Béarnais dizzy, rather naive in defense, often with their noses in the air in the great outdoors, as on the test of the third line Diallo (19th) after a lonely raid during which the green men seemed to play "touch". A little less than twenty minutes later, it is the center Vakatawa, completely forgotten, which pierces open field and serves its back Beale for the test (38th).
The problem, for the Sky and White, is that their big arms did not rule as they hoped. Moved in scrum, battered by the tonic pack of the Palois, they conceded two tries in the first period, the first after a small start to the third line Habel-Kuffner on a touch (14th). The second by the center Manu on a kick to follow inspired by the scrum half Daubagna (35th). Result, at the break, the players of Sébastien Piqueronies lead with a short header (20-18). Upon returning from the locker room, the intensity drops by a tone. The Ile-de-France residents force their hooker Le Guen behind the line on a penaltouche and take the advantage (26-28, 56th). The winger Taofifenua signs their success thanks to a test at the end of the line after a long phase of domination (75th).
⏱️ end of the match 😱
Baptiste Chouzenoux, comes for his 100th to save his teammates with an imperial counter in touch!
A second half like the 1st, between magnificent actions and difficulties against a very good team from the @SectionPaloise
🏔️ 29-35💙🤍 # SPR92 pic.twitter.com/xludR4LnKs
- Racing 92 (@ racing92) May 14, 2021
The player
Ibrahim Diallo
(Racing 92).
The third line in Ile-de-France has shown the extent of its talent.
A tireless tackler, he also offered himself a ride of forty meters, resisting tackles from defenders Pau for a test that Teddy Thomas (19th) would not have denied.
The number
2.
Thanks to this second success in a row, the Racingmen are opening wide the doors to qualifying for the final phase.
After a difficult period (four defeats in a row in the Top 14 and one elimination in the quarter-finals of the European Cup), here they are again.
The phrase
“We have come a long way.
The forwards did the job.
It's a good week for me, I extend my contract and we win.
", Teddy Thomas, the sky and white winger.