the Racingmen finally launch their season, the Bretons scuttle… the tops and the flops

TOPS

Racing 92 launches its season

Under pressure at the Rabine stadium, the pitch of promoted Vannes, Racing 92 remained at a failed and frustrating start to the season. With just one victory in four games, Stuart Lancaster’s men were 12th with a small point ahead of bottom-placed Vannes. An average start to the season with defeats conceded in the final moments, in Castres and against La Rochelle in Créteil. Against Vannes, the trend almost repeated itself, but the Ile-de-France residents held on at the end of the match. After a mixed start to the match, the Racingmen made the difference technically and above all delivered a very strong performance in the second half to get back in front. A victory with character which allows them to end their bad series and (finally) launch their season.

Le Garrec and Kaitu’u, the beautiful stories

What do his two Racing players have in common? They both registered a try which was ultimately refused. The first for Nolann Le Garrec from the 6th minute of play, not awarded because of a screen from one of his partners at the start of the action on a Vannes player. The second for Feleti Kaitu’u in the 51st minute refused this time for a second maul formed on the action. Six minutes later, the new arrival finally scored a try which was awarded. As a reminder, Le Garrec played a special match. He trained at RC Vannes, his father Goulven is even part of Jean-Noël Spitzer’s staff. At home, Nolann Le Garrec shone by scoring 12 points with a nice 100% on his feet.

FLOPS

Vannes scuttles in the second period

Cruel, this defeat for Vannes. The Bretons, galvanized by their lively crowd at the Rabine stadium, did everything well in the first period. United and combative, Jean-Noël Spitzer’s men were even in the lead at the break (17-10). But upon returning from the locker room, the situation changed, the Bretons saw the Racing players omnipresent in their camp and increasing the offensives. A sterile time, the Ile-de-France residents then hurt the helpless locals. To make matters worse, the promoted players, whose discipline we praised, made us lie by conceding numerous penalties. The turning point of the match undoubtedly came during Arrate’s warning in the 62nd minute. Outnumbered, the locals were unable to hold on.

Technical errors that are unforgiving

Beyond his indiscipline, Vannes could have made the difference during key moments. But technically imprecise, the red lantern of the championship wasted real opportunities. The first notable while the two teams are back to back with a try everywhere, the locals create a beautiful lateral movement from left to right to overtake the defense of the Ile-de-France residents. Edwards had found space but Surano completely missed the final pass for Nakosi, sending the ball into touch (17th).

The second is even more cruel, in the last moments of the match (80th), three small points behind their numerically inferior opponent, Vannes found the fault on the left side, but another missed pass aborted the final action of this match. Errors that count and which (surely) symbolize the team’s lack of experience in the Top 14.

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