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Racing 92 qualified for its third European Cup final in five years, beating the English club Saracens (19-15), defending champion, in the semi-final Saturday in Nanterre on Saturday. They will face Exeter, winner of Toulouse in the other semi-final, on October 17.
This is a feat of Racing 92! The Ile-de-France club climbed to the final of the European Cup on Saturday, September 26, succeeding in removing the Saracens (19-15), title holders, after a padlocked rugby match at Nanterre, Paris La Défense Arena .
Argentina winger Juan Imhoff delivered his own by scoring the only try of the game, four minutes from time. After their failures in 2016 and 2018, the Ciel et Blancs thus offered themselves a third opportunity to win their first European star.
It will be October 17 against the English of Exeter who beat Toulouse 28 to 18 to win the right to play the first final in their history.
A success on the wire
In this very closed meeting, the sky and white club was able to meet the challenge of the closed scrum imposed by the Sarries, a week after having achieved a clear success in Clermont (36 to 27). His lack of consistency in the aerial game did not ultimately penalize him, as his defense and his patience were admirable.
Several hand errors from Ile-de-France (Simon Zebo, Teddy Thomas, Camille Chat) gave the English club some opportunities. But Racing 92 held their ground for forty minutes thanks to their toughness in defense and the strength of their pack of forwards (9-6 at halftime).
Upon returning from the locker room. Alex Goode, surgical foot, allowed the Sarries to widen a gap (9-15). But Racing 92 reacted admirably in the last quarter of an hour. Maxime Machenaud, entered in place of Iribaren, brought his team closer (12-15) which created a great opportunity on a breathtaking breakthrough from Virimi Vakatawa ten minutes from time.
The young forwards, who came into play, like Hassane Kolingar, brought freshness and made the Sarries sweat, who ended up giving in four minutes from the end, thanks to Imhoff alone, well launched by Finn Russell (19-15) .
With AFP
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