Stuart Lancaster assures us.
It would be “too simple” to sum up Racing 92’s offensive problems to the sole absence of Nolann Le Garrec.
The Ile-de-France club is going through the worst period of its season with five defeats in a row in the Top 14 and injuries to all positions, the latest being South African world champion Siya Kolisi.
But the reality of the figures is as follows: with its titular Breton scrum half, Racing 92 scores 31.2 points and 4.3 tries per match for 7 victories and 3 defeats;
without him, these averages drop to 14.4 points and 1.7 tries per match for 6 defeats and only one success in the league.
All is said !
RC Toulon, another tormented team in the Top 14, presents itself at Paris-La Défense Arena on Sunday evening (9 p.m., Canal +) and will face a Racing 92 once again deprived of its number 9, established with the Blues in Wales in the afternoon.
“There is no doubt about the fact that Racing misses Nolann Le Garrec,” smiles Stuart Lancaster, manager of Ciel et Blanc.
Our big advantage this season is that we had the hinge, Nolann and Antoine (Gibert) from the start, during the preseason.
We were able to work our systems well.
At the moment, they are not there.
We lost Nolann, Antoine, Gaël (Fickou), Cameron (Woki), injured people... That's the challenge.
»
Two good news for the English coach: Cameron Woki has been released by the France team and Clovis Le Bail, another scrum half, is returning from injury.
The two men will start against Toulonnais.
After two stints with Max Spring, training fullback, as number 9, Racing 92 hopes to regain momentum.
“Playing scrum half is very specific,” recalls center Olivier Klemenczak.
Congratulations to Max (Spring) because, for the team, he did very well.
»
“We score fewer points for lots of reasons,” continues Stuart Lancaster, who wants to zoom out the guilt of the sole absence of Le Garrec.
“Don’t be afraid to play”
“It’s above all a collective problem,” also believes hooker Camille Chat.
We've all made mistakes.
When we're all on the same page, things will be better.
We were a little naked in key positions and it's complicated to play well, to put your game in place.
Same at hooker when I was injured.
We're getting by but it's a bit hot.
Offensively, we lack confidence, we find ourselves less.
But we had a good week.
Tuesday, I think it's been a long time since we trained like that.
I hope it pays off.
»
And that Racing will again exceed 20 points and, at least, two tries scored.
Which hasn't happened since January 6 against Castres (34-30), an evening when Nolann Le Garrec started.
“We have a real lack of confidence,” concludes Olivier Klemenczak.
We don't score anymore.
We are less precise in our system, we have fewer balls, less chance of putting it in place.
And as we have lost matches, we have less confidence so we take less risk too.
Nolann does us good when he is there.
But the main problem at the moment is confidence in the implementation of the system.
Don't be afraid to play.
»
The other good news is that, the actors assure, the smile is still there despite the series of defeats.
With one point behind Toulon, 5th, Racing 92 still has the opportunity to grab the right wagon.
But we have to stop dragging along the way.