To hope to reach the round of 16 stage of the Champions Cup, Racing 92 absolutely had to win this afternoon on the lawn of Bath, undefeated on the European scene this season, and author of a very good start of the English Championship. He failed. But the European adventure is not over for Jacky Lorenzetti’s club, which is banking heavily on the event. A victory against Cardiff, and a defeat of Ulster, which is possible, could allow Racing to survive.
But with a success, the week would undoubtedly have been more beautiful. And yet, in the 53rd minute, Racing led 22-8, after a try from Henry Arundell, well served by Maxime Baudonne. But, on home soil, Bath is capable of anything, the worst, but also the best, and above all Bath was capable of overthrowing the leader of the French Championship. How ? By attacking all the time, and from everywhere, with Finn Russell, obviously at the helm, helped by Ollie Lawrence who will once again be a strong asset for the England XV, by Alfie Barbeary, impressive and powerful 23-year-old third row , sent off at the end of the match, but author of the try for hope (60th), and also by Joe Cokanasiga, the winger who could find the XV de la Rose jersey in a few days, and author of a magnificent test (63rd).
This Bath team is magnificent to watch play, they are having a great English Championship, and still don’t know what defeat will taste like in this Champions Cup. For Racing, the weeks follow one another and are similar. For 53 minutes, Stuart Lancaster’s team was efficient, they seemed comfortable, serene, solid in defense, disciplined, and quite inspired in attack, even if Henry Arundell, who could have continued his career at Bath, was a little too selfish in the first minute of the match by forgetting to serve, inside, Nolan Le Garrec, who waited for this ball in vain.
Despite this error, Racing continued to attack, leading to the break (10-8) with a try from Le Garrec (19th). Returning from the locker room, he pressed even harder, and took off with two new tries, scored by Kitione Kamikamica (43rd), well served by Antoine Gibert who does not seem at all disturbed by the possible arrival next season of ‘Owen Farrell. And then, there was Arundell’s try… Everything seemed really easy, and quite frankly, we even thought that the Parisians were going to be able to drive the point home, by seeking, why not, an offensive bonus, and preparing with a little more serenity the last match of this first phase, next week, at home, against Cardiff. This will not be the case.
