"We did everything to go to Lille, now we will do everything to go to the Stade de France".
For Laurent Travers, manager of Racing 92, one goal chases the other: after beating Stade Français (38-21) in the jump-off, place in La Rochelle (June 18 at 8:45 p.m. in Lille) in the semi-final of the Top 14. With, in sight, the qualification for the final, June 25 in Saint-Denis, which would be a first since 2016, year of the title of champion of France won at Camp Nou in Barcelona.
Curiosity in the history of Racing: the Hauts-de-Seine club has never played in a final at the Stade de France.
It is therefore after this goal that the Ciel et Blancs run this week, preparing for this semi-final against La Rochelle which promises to be very tight.
“We had the same number of victories, the same number of points as them this year in the championship,” recalls Laurent Travers.
But they had the opportunity to recover well ”.
La Rochelle indeed finished second in the championship, with the particular difference in points with Racing, which gave the Maritimes a direct qualification for the half of Lille, where Racing had to go through this dam against Stade Français.
Ahead, battle announced
Evil for good, believes Boris Palu, third row of Racing.
“It wasn't a disappointment not to go straight to the semi-finals.
This allowed us to better prepare, not to have a cut.
We needed to gain confidence, to feel strong, against a team that beat us more than five weeks ago
(Editor's note: the Stade Français won at Paris La Défense Arena on May 1)
.
It's good to have played that match, it puts us on the right path.
“Direction Lille, therefore, and its Pierre-Mauroy stadium which will host this semi-final against La Rochelle and its big pack of forwards.
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The Atonio, Skelton, Alldritt or Vito have impressed rugby Europe this season and, even though La Rochelle is deprived of their injured hooker Pierre Bourgarit, his pack continues to impress. “We're going to come across something very, very solid, with a very aggressive defense, which goes up very quickly. A lot of forwards, but also dangerous on all lines, as we saw in the European Cup final, ”warns Laurent Travers. The Rochelais had indeed bowed slightly against Toulouse (22-17) at Twickenham on May 22, despite 50 minutes spent at 14 against 15.
“La Rochelle did not end up in the European Cup final by chance. It's a very big team that we know well, they beat us in the dams in Colombes two years ago ", recalls Maxime Machenaud, who also expects above all" a big fight forwards " . In this little game, the match against Stade Français on Friday night served as a rehearsal. "We were eaten up in front of it five weeks ago, we have corrected things well," said Machenaud. “We got the upper hand thanks to the forwards. Bravo to them, they are the ones who win the match, ”greeted Travers.
A good dynamic that could weigh in an undecided match against La Rochelle, no doubt a little tired by his European campaign, as evidenced by his last match lost in the Top 14 in Clermont. To the point of making Racing a favorite? “We never have certainties, warns Machenaud. We have built up confidence, we are on a rather positive dynamic. But we still have a final phase match on Friday night ”.