Racing 92 is like its venue in Paris La Défense Arena.
Away from the storms, as if protected from the looming heavy weather.
The 22,000 spectators of the Nanterre enclosure thus remained quietly sheltered from the storm which rumbled over the Paris region, Sunday evening, during the decisive Racing-Toulon match, at the end of the regular phase of the Top 14. And the sky and white club, he knew how to protect himself from the hurricane of an elimination of the final stages, by coming with difficulty to the end of Toulon (21-16).
The Racing ship rocks sometimes, but remains afloat again this season.
Since its rise in the elite, 12 seasons now, Racing 92 has subscribed to the top 6 of the French Championship.
No club can say the same.
“Tonight is a complicated emotion, summarizes Juan Imhoff, the hero of the evening with his life-saving try at the hour mark. There are a lot of people who think we have won something, but we are just qualified.
Can you imagine if we didn't qualify for the first time?
I've been very stressed all week.
Qualification here is the minimum objective.
We are in Racing to win titles.
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In this regard, with only one Shield of Brennus won in 2016, the results are meager.
But in a very dense championship, where everything is decided on the last day and where big historic clubs like Toulon or Clermont can go by the wayside, the regularity of Racing 92 is to be underlined.
“Racing is always present, savors, without boasting, manager Laurent Travers.
In this match against Toulon, we were able to correct our approximations after half-time.
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— Racing 92 (@racing92) June 5, 2022
Because in the first period, the Hauts-de-Seine liner was seriously torpedoed by the Toulon arsenal.
Touched, but not sunk, by Charles Ollivon and his partners, Racing 92 was indeed able to raise the bar at the break.
“We had a failing conquest, but it was very positive in the 2nd half, continues Laurent Travers.
We took the lead over our adversary, with more speed, gaining the advantage line a little more.
And that's how we control the game.
“We felt that we were advancing a little more in the scrum after the break, specifies the third row Ibou Diallo.
At half-time, we said things to each other, that we had to go, that we react well, so as not to end the season like that”.
Racing's experience and physical resistance did the rest.
Even the three failures in front of the poles of Nolann Le Garrec, who could have put the Ciel et Blancs in the shelter, ultimately had no consequence.
“Even very, very great players can miss actions,” defended Laurent Travers.
In the end, Racing 92 will be able to plan for its play-off match in Bordeaux against UBB.
“We are anything but favourites, it is up to us to thwart the predictions, warns the Racing manager.
Now, a new championship is starting”.
And it is this step, the highest, that Racing 92 must now get used to crossing.