A jump in the rankings. At the opening of this thirteenth day of the Top 14, the last of the first phase, Racing placed itself – before the other matches – in 6th place, the final rank giving right to the final phase, thanks to its improved success against Montauban (61-16) this Saturday at Paris La Défense Arena. The Ile-de-France residents scored nine tries against a totally overwhelmed promotion.
Between a Pro D 2 level team and a team aiming to qualify for the final table, the matter seemed a foregone conclusion. We just had to wait for the start of the second half for the Ciel et Blanc, helped by an upside-down opponent, to bring some order to a battlefield riddled with clumsiness and excitement.
Racing has indeed been stuck on its green carpet in its Paris La Défense Arena venue for a long time. Physically stronger, more powerful, dominant in conquest, the Ile-de-France club should have taken off much earlier, taking advantage of the profusion of gifts from a Santa Claus dressed in green, his head undoubtedly turned towards other deadlines.
The promoted person is indeed fighting a completely different battle. Montauban is actually playing a two-legged match in the standings against Perpignan. The defeated will dive directly to the lower floor. The winner will have the right to play a play-off against the finalist of Pro D 2 to avoid joining them there.
Given what the Tarn-et-Garonne team is showing, it would seem surprising that they escape a return to square one. Fragile in all her lines, she multiplies the approximate gestures, offering golden balls to her opponent and wasting the rare opportunities she obtains with forward stunts. It’s sad and doesn’t do much good.
Bright passes then Carbonneau’s double
What do you think of Racing in these conditions? Particularly messy in the first period, Patrice Collazo’s players benefited from two bright passes from their scrum half Léo Carbonneau, author of an offering of almost twenty meters for his third line Manyarara (15th) in the winger position then from a crossed chistera in the closed side for his winger Hulleu (21st), to quickly take the lead in the score. The rest ? Mainly confusion.
At the break, the Ile-de-France residents led 19-10 and could seriously worry their staff. Montauban quickly took it upon himself to reassure all these little sky and white people. The tries were raining, including a double from Carbonneau and another from prop Taniela Tupou, for the Australian rookie’s first match. Sébastien Tillous-Borde’s players have disappeared body and soul. The Ciel et Blanc, for their part, ensured the essential: the five points of an improved victory.
