Players, coach, managers… On and off the field, the Ile-de-France club, which travels to Toulon this Saturday, is going through a very turbulent period.
Not a week without a little story. Even several stories per week. Racing 92 is going through a chaotic season, between disappointing sporting results and behind-the-scenes turmoil. Last weekend, the Ile-de-France club returned to its Paris La Défense Arena venue to finally concede a draw against Lyon (25-25). New disillusionment. “For me, it’s a defeat, confirms Cameron Woki. We lacked discipline. Aside from the try they were able to put in and where they really played, we gave them everything. Without our indiscipline, I think the match is over…”
The last few weeks have been hectic in Hauts-de-Seine. We don't know where to start. The heels Camille Chat and Janick Tarrit were initially left out of the group after a drunken evening. Cat came to training drunk and a dismissal was mentioned, when Tarrit had a complete breakdown. An extra-sporting affair which occurred after a heavy defeat at Sale in the Champions Cup (29-7). “We have to make a decision on their future next week or the next,” explained English manager Stuart Lancaster before Christmas, without wanting “say more”.
I was frustrated by the lies that were told about me
Stuart Lancaster
But, above all, Racing was shaken by incessant rumors concerning its management. After having been denied for a long time by the person himself, the departure of the president of the board of directors Laurent Travers was finally recorded for the club. It should, according to South West, join Aviron Bayonnais next season. “Wishing to reconnect with his role as a Rugby technician, Laurent has decided to end his duties to be free to seize the opportunity to return to the field”indicated the Altosequan club in a press release. End of the great story which allowed the club to become champion of France in 2016 and to play in three Champions Cup finals (2016, 2018, 2020).
To add another layer, rumors of an early departure of English manager Stuart Lancaster, who is struggling to find his feet in France and whose method is subject to criticism, have regularly come up. Again, new denial. From the former XV de la Rose coach himself: “I have been frustrated by the lies that have been told about me. One of them started in England when I left for Munster, which is absolutely not true. And the podcast that said it (“The Rugby Pod” with former England fly-half Andy Goode, Editor's note), I have no respect for him.”
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We are mainly focused on collective performances rather than everything that is said about the club
Cameron Woki
All this turbulence “do not affect us”recently made a point of sweeping the Gaël Fickou international center. And Cameron Woki agrees: “We are mainly focused on collective performances rather than everything that is said about the club.” The fact remains that, on the field, the excitement of the Ciel et Blanc is obvious, like this end of the match among the Montpellier team where they are unable to score in numerical superiority at 15 against 13. After this setback already marked by crippling indiscipline (3 yellow cards), forwards coach Dimitri Szarzewski said: “We don’t want to fall into disaster…” It's a failure.
Before going to challenge a Toulon in clear recovery of form, Racing 92 is at a standstill: only one success in these last six matches in all competitions, including four outings without a victory in the Top 14. The trend is global, the Ciel et Blanc have only won 6 of their 15 matches this season, unworthy of a contender for the final stages. And in the championship, they are currently ninth, certainly only 6 points behind La Rochelle (6th) at mid-season, but also four small units from the play-off place (Lyon, 12th). Between two waters. With a lot of excitement. “I absolutely don't think we've lost the thread of the game we wanted to put in place at the start of last season», recently positive Nolann Le Garrec, who will leave the club at the end of the season for Stade Rochelais. Another “affair” which agitated Racing 92…
