Champions Cup: Racing 92 scores a miraculous victory over the Harlequins

Between the two teams playing, at the Paris La Défense Arena pool table, Racing 92 and the London Harlequins put on a somewhat messy but completely crazy match in front of 10,000 spectators who came to warm up in the Nanterre hall. The undecided Franco-British shot finally tipped in favor of Ciel and Blanc after a cold-blooded penalty from Nolann Le Garrec when Racing was 12 to 15. Wonderful!

In this beginning of an impossible mission to save what else can be saved in this competition, Racing 92 stepped in with good intentions for the first time. Sky and White send the game and are rewarded with a Gael Fico attempt from the 5th minute after a great collective action. Camilla Chat gas, Warrick Gelant’s fire support, ants at Donovan Taofifenua’s legs…: Racing let go but used too much ammo (two missed hits, two hitters from Voca and Diallo close to the lines) and shows unsettling misgivings in melee.

The match picks up steam and Taofifenua miraculously saves Morris, who was about to level the ground to leave Racing ahead. The English blame the hit and cash immediately after the try from Kamikamika, who bounces well after the touch, finally well controlled. Laurent Travers’ players can breathe at halftime (14-3). With these two tries, the offensive bonus is halfway done.

Awakening Marcus Smith

Undoubtedly shaken at half-time, the Racers were successful thanks to Saili’s entry attempt after Bodonna’s breakthrough. But it was written that this Racer would not be easier in the search for benchmarks and on AC for several weeks. The English will-o’-the-wisp Marcus Smith will wake up his people, in two attempts in five minutes and the author of angular transformations (21-17, 52nd). English fans present at the Paris La Défense Arena perform.

The match gets crazy and smells like a knockout on both sides. Cameron Waukey finds his feet off the XV of France and offers himself a full field fall. But he takes a step forward when he smooths out the next action… Alternating current, always. Smith again torments the defense of the Île-de-France, but with a numerical advantage, and offers a double to his winger Merly (24-22, 65th).

Racing are believed to have lost on penalties and have conceded three yellow cards in the last ten minutes. It was then, with a score of 12 against 15, that Ciel and Blanc began to play again: a stolen touch, a penalty won and a successful shot by Le Garrec saved the main thing. “This is a disappointing victory,” Captain Gael Ficu breathes. Too many mistakes, too many inaccuracies… We will have to work much better.” Qualifying for the round of 16 will indeed need to be fought by the formidable Irishman from Leinster next weekend.