Tied on points with Bayonne, Racing 92 plays a match to consolidate its rise in power, this Saturday at Jean-Dauger. A match with a special flavor for Joe Rokocoko who finds a city “close to his heart”, the scene of his first steps in Europe as a player (98 matches between 2011 and 2015). The Racingmen coach, who expects “a great match”, does not want to be emotional: “The first objective is to win even if we win this way”.
This “manner” is the one with which the club won against Toulon (22-6) last Saturday. A match far from spectacular, with no points scored at half-time, but during which Racing emerged victorious thanks to a controlled end to the game. “We didn’t get out of our game plan, especially in the last 20 minutes where we scored a lot of points as soon as we got into the 22,” analyzes the former All Black international (68 caps).
Defensive solidity
The start of the series started by the men of Lancaster during the last two matches allows them to approach this trip to the Basque Country with confidence. Confidence acquired thanks in particular to a newfound defensive rigor: “We worked very well, we had two good defensive performances […] We wanted to reassure ourselves about the basics of the game, by playing simple,” says fly-half Antoine Gibert. After conceding 31 points in Castres then 52 in Bordeaux, the Ile-de-France residents hope to rectify the situation at Jean-Dauger, a stadium where the public pushes behind Rowing.
“The public’s contribution will be very important,” thinks Rokocoko, who “knows how they like to play” and hopes to find solutions to finally leave victorious against Bayonne. Last year’s double confrontation turned to the advantage of the Basques thanks to better management of the last quarter of an hour.
Bayonne also showed, last Saturday against La Rochelle (37-7), its ability to start matches at a scorching pace (Editor’s note: 20-0 in the 14th minute). Every minute counts for Rokocoko “Every sequence is important. We saw it in the last matches against them where we lost the match at the end.”
Gibert holder
The Racingmen will be able to count on the return of Antoine Gibert to the starting XV. Absent at the start of the season after an operation on his adductor muscles, the opening half has picked up minutes during the last two days. “I feel in full possession of my means, without pain so I am excited to be able to start a match” he testifies.
Retained in the France group for the 2024 6 Nations Tournament, Gibert wants to confirm this season: “I am no longer the little kid and I am ready to take on the role that I acquired last year. “. Jannik Tarrit is also applying for a starting place after celebrating his return against Toulon with a try. Aside from the long-term injured (Bamba, Naituvi, D. Taofifénua and Kolinga), Racing does not have any new residents in the infirmary, Joe Rokocoko believing he has a “good group for this trip”.
