Top 14: Racing 92 eliminated in the play-offs after cracking against Bordeaux-Bègles

For the past twelve years that he has been faithfully composing his ticket for the final stages of the Top 14, the same question follows in the wake of Racing 92 once these warm evenings have come: what if this year was the right one?

With only one title since 2016, there have

been far more disappointments than joys since 2010 in these quits or doubles matches where we no longer speak of duplicates, team rotations and defensive bonuses.

And unfortunately for the Ciel et Blancs, this defeat this Sunday evening against Bordeaux-Bègles in Gironde (36-16) settles the debate far too prematurely and is part of this tradition of setbacks before even seeing the final.

The first dams between Toulouse and La Rochelle (33-28) the day before had been unbridled publicity for our championship?

This has long been much more tactical and tense, despite a Chaban-Delmas electrified by the challenge and one of these heats of almost the beginning of summer which warms bodies and minds.

But a clash between the last two European champions cannot deliver the same spectacle as a meeting between two teams at a level that is sometimes unreadable this season, between Racingmen on alternating current and Girondins in difficulty over this second part of the season.

Galvanized and pushed by the crowd with each offensive, it was the men of Christophe Urios who best launched the affair.

More ferocious, less clumsy offensively than the Ile-de-France residents, the Bordelais stung for the first time after an attack led at full blind by his trio Lucu-Jalibert and Cordero (20th).

But failing to always be exciting, Racing 92 has a few players who represent the future, but already embody the present.

Racing 92 mistreated in melee

Because it was with the vista of his 20-year-old scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec and the gas of his 21-year-old fullback Max Spring that the Ile-de-France residents revived, even taking a five-point lead (8-13) just after the break thanks to the foot of the first and a test of the second (39th).

But even with all the nuggets in the world at the back, rugby has a fairly simple basic axiom: when it gets stuck in front, it very often loses in the end.

And as a year ago against La Rochelle in half, it is on the side of the "big" that the Sky and White have failed.

In seven minutes (47th, 54th), it was in the wake of two scrums dominated by his pack that the Bordelais regained control of the match and put a blow on the helmet of the Racingmen.

The gap had however been identified and worked on this season, but once the showdown came this Sunday evening in Gironde, Racing 92 was unable to respond.

Seuteni restores the advantage to @UBBrugby thanks to Moefana passing his arms🔥#UBBR92 pic.twitter.com/njNwLbRi0n

– Canal Rugby Club (@CanalRugbyClub) June 12, 2022

Two tries that lead, before a third four minutes later (58th) scored by the international Cameron Woki in a defense more concerned.

Too much for this team, forced into the last twenty minutes punctuated by the cries of joy of Chaban-Delmas to celebrate their heroes leaving for Nice and the last four, concluded with a last test for the road of winger Ben Lam.

For Racing 92, after its European disillusionment, the season ends there, without a title.

Still.