Goal 10 points! Before two months off, due to the World Cup in France (September 8 – October 28), Racing 92 wants to refuel against Perpignan this Saturday (5 p.m., Canal +) on the occasion of the third day of Top 14. A possible improved success against a struggling Usap team, swept twice by Stade Français (7-29) and Clermont (38-14) during the first two outings. This will require regaining the effectiveness of the attack seen last year.
The match: rediscover the game and offensive efficiency
The best attack of last season (28 points on average) is somewhat behind after its first two games. The performance of Nolan Le Garrec (author of 20 points) against the UBB in opening (23-18) did not have any continuation on the lawn of Pau (defeat 19-17). Despite three tries scored at the Hameau, the Ile-de-France residents have never found the solution to dominate the aggressive Pau in defense. “We fell into a false rhythm without managing to hold the ball and put our game down, regretted the second line Baptiste Chouzenoux. It’s a shame. When we hold the ball, we are dangerous. You have to do that from the start of the match to asphyxiate the team opposite. »
Racing therefore knows its main mission against Usap, the worst defense in the Top 14 after two days. For the conquest, the Hauts-de-Seine club can also count on the first of Thomas Laclayat. The pillar, who arrived from Oyonnax, completed the preparation with the France team this summer and remains a reserve. Came into play last week, he will start against Perpignan. A weighty reinforcement for Racing in search of a nice success in its La Défense Arena. After the truce, reinforcements will arrive, in particular the three summer recruits mobilized by the World Cup: Josua Tuisova (Fiji), Will Rowlands (England), Siya Kolisi (South Africa).
The player: Antoine Gilbert
After two starts from Tristan Tedder at the opening, place for Antoine Gibert. A pure product of the Paris region (Boulogne-Billancourt then Racing 92), the 25-year-old number 10 will start this Saturday. Since the 2020-2021 season, he has been the second opener for the Ile-de-France residents. After having been the lining of the Scottish Finn Russell, he is therefore this season behind Tristan Tedder for the time being. The latter, on the bench, will find his former teammates after two years in Catalonia. The 27-year-old South African, who arrived in France in 2017 at Stade Toulouse, was one of Usap’s basic men: 11 tries and 321 points scored in total in 47 games.
At Racing, he found his “best friend” James Hall, a former scrum half for Stade Français, out of the group against Usap. “With James, we have known each other for 20 years, said Tristan Tedder at Midi Olympique last July. We grew up together, from elementary school to high school. Our first matches, we played them in my garden, in his garage… It’s crazy that we end up in the same club…”.
The number: 8
Since Racing’s rise to the Top 14 in 2009-2010, eight confrontations have taken place between the two teams. Usap had won in the first before bringing a draw from the second. From ? Ten defeats for the Catalans, including two huge slaps (64-28 in 2018 and 42-20 last year).
