A demonstration of strength and efficiency which, from the outset, shattered the hopes of Stade Français Paris.
In its Arena in Nanterre, Racing 92 scored three tries in a quarter of an hour, then another half an hour into the game, to kill the match.
28-0 in the 28th minute, maximum efficiency, total realism.
Mass was said.
But the Ile-de-France residents, on their return from the locker room, slackened, less sharp, less applied, they let their Parisian neighbors register three tries.
Racing-Stade Français: the favorites and claws of our special correspondent
A relaxation of Heaven and Whites, combined with an awakening of the Pink Soldiers. “At 28 to zero, the players probably thought that the Stadistes were going to give up, and suddenly it was they who gave up a bit, admitted the Ile-de-France manager Laurent Travers. This allowed the Stade Français to play while moving forward. We had a lot less the ball, and that failed us. It was difficult afterwards to turn the situation around. " Same observation from scrum half Maxime Machenaud: “We did not necessarily put our game in place but we were able to build on a very large defense. We had some hesitation in the second half but it's always difficult to manage a match when there are so many points difference. ”
The Racingmen, who had been beaten six weeks ago in their enclosure by these same Parisians, had a score to settle.
"We had a lot of aggressiveness, resentment," admitted the third line Boris Palu, who does not avoid the slack of his team.
“In the second half, we say to ourselves 'The more we can hurt them, the better', especially since it's a derby.
But unconsciously, when we scored this try as soon as we got back from the locker room, we relaxed, we hurt the tackle less. "
When we talk about big packages of before, that of La Rochelle is one.
This season in the European Cup, they hurt everyone
Boris Palu
While the line of attack of the “Galactics” of Racing is regularly put forward, the Ciel et Blanc pack delivered a high-level performance, flying over the debates at the start of the match.
“A lot of comments lingered on our three-quarter line, but for this line to show its qualities, the forwards must do the job, reminded Laurent Travers.
Rugby is a game of fighting and forwards.
In the first fifty minutes, we took over the Stade Français.
Bravo to the front! ”
And to recall this maxim often heard in rugby: "The forwards decide who will win the match and the three-quarters decide the score."
Sixth semi-final for Racing
Next week, at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Lille, the shock against Stade Rochelais promises a dantesque showdown. “When we talk about big packages of fronts, that of La Rochelle is one, is wary Boris Palu. They have a great defense and, this season in the European Cup, they have hurt everyone. ” An observation shared by Laurent Travers: “La Rochelle has a lot of forwards and dangers in all lines. Everyone will have to stay focused. ” One more reminder.
But, as he had proclaimed before the match, the technician from Altoséquanais repeats it: “There, we gave everything to win this quarter-final and go to Lille. And we will do everything to then go to the Stade de France. ” The Hauts-de-Seine club, which has never missed the finals since returning to the top flight in 2009-2010, will play its sixth semi-final. With their sights set on a second Top 14 final after that of 2016, which ended in a victory in Barcelona against RC Toulon.