Racing 92 made the round back during the international period while many executives left in their respective selection. Attention to decompression warned this week the manager of Ciel et Blanc Laurent Travers when receiving Bayonne this Sunday in Nanterre (at 7 p.m. on Canal +) on behalf of the 10th day of Top 14.
Solid ninth just three points behind the Ile-de-France region in the standings, the Basques will remember that they won here even a year ago. “Let us remain vigilant anyway because we mainly played in reaction during this international period”, warns Travers.
The return of the internationals. Those who excited us with the France team are back. Camille Chat, Virimi Vakatawa and Bernard Le Roux find their place in the starting XV tonight. Along with Toulouse, Racing 92 was the Top 14 club the most punctuated by the international break. Over the period, no less than 12 internationals joined the Blues (Vakatawa, Chat, Le Roux, Thomas, Colombe, Kolingar, Sanconnie, Klemenczak, Oz), Scotland (Russell), Argentina (Imnhoff) or Georgia (Gogichachvili).
The manager Laurent Travers finally finds his executives even if the Ciel et Blanc have gone through the period rather well “from an accounting point of view”. Two away victories (Stade Français, Brive), one at home (Pau) and two defensive bonuses despite the defeats in Castres and La Rochelle. No more DIY like the pillar Ben Arous forced to be converted into a hooker? Not sure, the injuries this week of the third row Fabien Sanconnie (right quadriceps) and the center Olivier Klemenczak (Achilles tendon) in Marcoussis have tarnished the joy of the international returns.
Here is Iribaren again. We left him on a huge wrong note in the European Cup final on October 17 where he played injured, completely missing out on one of the most important matches of his career. The scrum-half treated a sore thigh. He especially carried out introspection work to test himself tonight against Bayonne before the future European deadlines.
An air of revenge. For their first home game last season, the Parisians fell straight away (24-17). A defeat that would inaugurate an unusual feverishness in their room in Nanterre (setback against Lyon and Bordeaux and draw against Agen). But this time, the Bayonne coach goes to the capital without some of his executives left to rest (Germain, Muscarditz, Rouet) in the Basque Country.
RACING 92 – BAYONNE
Paris La Défense Arena, 7 p.m., Canal +
Racing 92: Zebo – Laborde, Vakatawa, Chavancy (cap.), D. Taofifenua – (o) Gibert, (m) Iribaren – Chouzenoux, Jor. Joseph, Lauret – Do. Ryan, Le Roux – Gomes Sa, Chat, Ben Arous. Entrance: Through.
Bayonne: Luc – Robinson, Perese, Hingano, Duhau – (o) Ordas, (m) Ruru – Héguy, F. Taofifenua, Darlet – Ducat (cap.), Pyle – Mousset, Ulugia, Cormenier. Entr. : Bru.
