“It is especially important for us to set foot at the Stade de France.
And even more.
Laurent Travers, the manager of Racing 92, recalled the objective of his people before the semi-final of the Top 14 (this Friday at 8:45 pm) against La Rochelle: to aim for the title of champion of France.
For this, the Ciel et Blanc have a solid workforce.
Compared to the demonstration against Stade Français (38-21), Racing will have almost the same team, except for the number 8 position, where Antonie Claassen replaces Yoan Tanga, and on the wing, where Louis Dupichot will be holder in place of Donovan Taofifenua, the two young players being injured.
International hooker Camille Chat is still unavailable, as is Argentinian winger Juan Imhoff.
In the front row, pillar Hassane Kolingar will start the match.
Eddy Ben Arous is absent.
The pair of centers of the XV of France Fickou-Vakatawa will again be aligned, and will be opposed, on the Rochelais side, to a doublet unaccustomed to playing together: Raymond Rhule-Jules Favre, due to a cascade of absent at this post in La Rochelle.
Maybe one of the keys to the game.
The lines for the 1st semi-final of Top14: @ staderochelais- @ racing92!
⏱Friday, 8.45 p.m.
🏟Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille. # SRR92 # TOP14 pic.twitter.com/F2zj4FK8Cb
- Les Composos 🏉 (@LesCompos) June 17, 2021
“We were very convincing against the French stadium, said Laurent Travers.
But in rugby, everything is reset every weekend.
We know the quality of La Rochelle, its very large package of forwards which puts the opposing team in difficulty, but also their three-quarters.
They made the final of the European Cup, it is no coincidence.
They have quality from 1 to 23, but it's the same on our side.
"
For his last days with Racing (he will join Bordeaux next year), François Trinh-Duc "wants to go to the end".
“We know the individualities of La Rochelle, but we have a collective, we rely on a complete group.
Physically and defensively, we responded against Stade Français.
We are capable of being dangerous everywhere.
We studied La Rochelle, but our only opponent is ourselves ”.
THE MATCH SHEET
La Rochelle - Racing 92, Friday June 18 at 8:45 p.m. at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Lille.
Referee
: Mathieu Raynal.
La Rochelle:
Dulin - Leyds, Rhule, Favre, Retière - (o) West, (m) Kerr-Barlow - Gourdon, Alldritt, Liebenberg - Skelton, Sazy (cap.) - Atonio, Bosch, Wardi.
Alternates: Lagrange, Priso, Lavault, Vito, Le Bail, Plisson, Sweetnam, Joly.
Racing 92:
Beale - Thomas, Vakatawa, Fickou, Dupichot - (o) Russell, (m) Machenaud (cap.) - Diallo, Claassen, Palu - Bird, Le Roux - Gomes Sa, Baubigny, Kolingar.
Alternates: Le Guen, Gogichashvili, Ryan, Lauret, Iribaren, Trinh-Duc, Zebo, Colombe Reazel.
