A small point and that’s it … While they seemed to have the match in hand at the break (10-13), the players of Racing 92 left the Pierre-Fabre stadium in Castres with the meager consolation of having snatched the defensive bonus on a final try from Taofifuena in stoppage time (28-26) this Saturday.
Despite the absence of six internationals due to duplicates and the lack of address at the foot of Maxime Machenaud, Laurent Travers’ men, undefeated away from the start of the season, nevertheless had plenty of weapons to win at home. a formation in full doubt after three losses in a row.
A catastrophic return from the locker room, with a penalty from the Urdapilleta metronome and a converted try from Nakosi, was a game-changer. In a cathedral silence due to closed doors, Castres took advantage of the indiscipline and defensive failings of Ciel et Blanc to take the reins and has not let go.
“It’s a big disappointment because we came to win, to continue our momentum and we didn’t know how to do it, breathes Henry Chavancy. We weren’t good. There are a lot of things that haven’t been. The only positive thing about this match is our courage and our determination at the end not to come back empty-handed. “
The Racingmen would they have taken their opponents a little too high? It is in any case the impression of Thomas Combezoux. “They may have lacked a little respect for us,” launches the three-quarter Tarn. We were dominated on the penetrating mauls and they insisted too much in front. But we have a very good team, valiant, we scrap well. “
With this defeat, Racing 92 is nine points behind the leader Clermont. The Clermontois, they managed to win the offensive bonus in the derby of the Massif Central in Brive (21-43). This Sunday, at the end of the 7th day (9:05 pm), the Stade Français, 11th, receives Toulouse, runner-up to the Auvergnats. The march promises to be very high for the Quesada players…
