European Cup: Leinster lost, Racing eliminated and promoted to the Challenge Cup.

The illusion lasted for a good hour. Racing then gave up, losing hope of qualifying in Dublin. No feat against Leinster, just a dream. After much debate, the Irish dominated the Île de France region (36-10) and were eliminated from the competition in the group stage for the first time since 2017. Laurent Travers’ players laid most of their chances during their first leg rout at the Ocean Stadium in Le Havre on December 10 (10:42 am).

On the turf of the Aviva stadium they were not funny before cracking in the last quarter of an hour, relieved by the incessant waves of the Irish, who nevertheless made it easy for themselves by forgoing the slightest penalty in order to concentrate on their attacking game. . Driving away at a hundred miles an hour, they thought they would make Ciel and Blanc dizzy, who are often overloaded this season when the speed picks up. But the inhabitants of Île-de-France were able to control their actions this time. Ruthless invaders, they made very few mistakes, causing Leinster to slowly but surely wither away during the first period.

Winger Jimmy O’Brien, after a masterful move and a breakthrough from his center Harry Ringrose (15th), nevertheless seemed to materialize the almost outrageous superiority of players Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster, future Racing manager, and promise forty thousand spectators at Aviva Stadium is a new Irish attraction. But this team, which made up three-quarters of the XV Clover, probably underestimated the opponent a little and the score did not take off. Gael Fiku and his white-clad teammates gradually gained confidence. Relying on a solid and dominating group in the scrum, Laurent Travers’ men gradually came out of their camp and scored from the penalty spot thanks to a hard try by young prostitute Janick Tarrit (32nd).

Returning from the locker room, the inhabitants of Ile-de-France even took the lead. After a successful recovery from Nolan Le Garrec, Finn Russell found the error by drilling a full axle before serving Christian Wade alone on his wing (48th, 7-10). They held out for a while before collapsing in the last quarter of an hour, exhausted by the incessant rolling. Three missed attempts in seven minutes, from 66th to 73rd, put an end to their illusions. They will be content with playing in the 1/8 finals of the Challenge Cup. Little consolation.