A good fix as an aperitif for the Christmas meal. Back in the Top 14 business after two defeats in the Champions Cup, Racing 92 held its place as first in the Top 14 by crushing Oyonnax (66-10) on Saturday. A demonstration accompanied by the offensive bonus to gain even more air from its pursuers before the final day of 2023.
We will rightly forget it, but to get there, it was initially difficult. With a tasteless and lackluster first half hour from the two teams, especially from the one supposed to play the game at home against a promoted team as leader of the championship. It’s hard to blame the most ardent supporter for first being tempted by a nap to perk up before the end-of-year holiday marathon.
So much so that we found ourselves staring more at the giant screen filming the Racing mascot disguised as Santa Claus who came to distribute gifts at the bottom of the stand than scrutinizing yet another sluggish suit. Just after, pillar Thomas Laclayat, summer defector from Oyonnax, found a way to make a near-stopped forward move to play a penalty just in front of the Ain club’s goal (28th).
Five tries scored in numerical superiority
The last offensive stutter before the fierce acceleration against Oyonnax players temporarily reduced to 14 then 13. An indiscipline punished by two tries from scrum half Nolann Le Garrec (31st, 40th) before heading to the locker room. And a knockout assured by Fabien Sanconnie (42nd), his number nine (44th) and Thomas Laclayat (48th) against an opponent still outnumbered.
35 points inflicted in a quarter of an hour of play, enough to ensure much more than the essentials and to calmly manage the end of the match against the Oyomen helpless and blocked in their camp. To finish by rolling with five other tries to make ten, including a comeback from the whole field in the wake of one of the very rare offensives of the promoted (72nd). Effective. Clinical. Without mercy.
In short, Racing 92 managed as a focused leader on its last home outing. The final trip of 2023 will take him to Bayonne on Saturday, in difficulty in this championship but still undefeated at Jean-Dauger. Not saying that we see a demonstration of this kind there.
RACING 92 – OYONNAX : 66-10
Half-time: 14-3
Racing 92: tests by Le Garrec (31st, 40th, 44th), Sanconnie (41st), Laclayat (48th), Kamikamica (52nd), Baudonne (58th, 80th+1), Wade (64th), Klemenczak (72nd); transformations of Méliande (31st, 40th, 42nd, 44th, 48th, 64th, 72nd, 80th°1)
Oyonnax: Hermet’s try (77th); transformation of Miotti (77th); penalty from Miotti (13th)
Spectators: 9583
