Top 14: Racing 92 climbs on the podium by easily dominating Clermont

Some clumsiness, but an offensive festival in the end.

Racing 92 crushed ASM Clermont Auvergne (46-12), this Sunday at Paris La Défense Arena, on behalf of the 11th day of the Top 14, by scoring six tries.

Les Ciel et Blanc climbed onto the championship podium.

The essential

The return to the Top 14 after a two-week international break can sometimes come as a surprise.

When you have become accustomed to the intensity and precision of matches between the best nations in the world, the return to the ordinary of the French Championship can sometimes have a bitter taste.

But warm in its lair of Paris La Défense Arena, Racing 92 avoided the cold snap in this return.

With a lively and elusive Le Garrec-Gibert hinge at the maneuver, the Ciel et Blancs quickly took the measure of courageous but diminished Clermontois.

Served on foot by Gibert, winger Christian Wade planted the first try in the 4th minute.

And from half an hour into the game, Racing 92 tripled the bet and already obtained a provisional offensive bonus, after a try in force by Kolingar on a good combination in touch, then a marvel of action at sea concluded by Saili after a inspiration from the rear Max Spring with fiery legs and nimble fingers.

22-0, Clermont left to take a jacket.

The Jaunards will react with a try from Delguy before the break.

From then on, the match boiled down to a race for the offensive bonus, the victory of Ciel et Blanc no longer being too much in doubt.

It was just necessary for the players of Laurent Travers to keep these three tries more than the Clermontois.

In a more messy second period, Raka, the most legged Clermontois, will respond to Imhoff by mystifying the Racing defense.

Taking advantage of the many balls lost by the Clermontois (Woki, in international form, reigned on the sidelines), the Ile-de-France residents drive the point home with two balls recovered by Gibert then Wade who spins into the in-goal.

The party is total, Racing climbs on the podium of the Top 14 before moving to Toulon next weekend.

The player: Gibert was hungry for a game

He had been chomping at the bit since the start of the season.

Antoine Gibert has very often taken a seat in the Top 14, the fault of a Finn Russell in full swing.

The Scot replacing after having played the international tests, "Gibus" was offered a chance to lead the game of Racing.

The 24-year-old opening half took advantage of this by crunching in this match with relish.

He recovers a ball on the ground from the start of the match and delivers a pass with the foot perfect for the test of Wade.

The rest is to match: with the stick, Gibert maneuvered well, putting Camille Chat in the interval, saving a blocked ball from Le Garrec.

He also successfully relayed his scrum half when he had just chained three foot failures (2 out of 2) and ended the match with an interception try.

Solid.

The number: 13

Racing 92 had a 13th straight success at home.

Paris La Défense Arena, nicely stocked (10,987 spectators) and celebrating the 140th anniversary of Racing, has become impregnable for exactly a year.

The last home defeat for Ciel et Blanc dates back to the 11th day of the Top 14, against Bordeaux (14-37), on November 28, 2021.

Dots

Racing 92 - Clermont 46-12

(halftime 22-5)

Racing 92: 6 tries (Wade 4th, Kolingar 25th, Saili 31st, Imhoff 43rd, Gibet 72nd, Wade 76th).

5 conversions (Le Garrec 26th, Gibert 32nd, 45th, Russell 73rd, 77th).

2 penalties (Le Garrec 8th, Russell 81st).

Clermont: 2 tries (Delguy 36th, Raka 67th).

1 conversion (Plisson 67th).