Although the match started very badly for the Ile-de-France residents who returned empty-handed, they will still be able to find some reasons for satisfaction.
Having come to brave the cold with a very clearly reorganized team and without the pillars of its team which are Le Garrec, Fickou, Rowlands, Woki, Tuisova, Racing was not favored by the punters, as the second row Boris summed up Palu: “It wasn’t an easy evening but we knew what we were getting into. It’s a team that has lost only once at home in two years […] We were promised hell but I think we delivered.” A correction avoided thanks to a saving reaction in the second half, as well as other small satisfactions which will relieve the disappointment of the Ile-de-France residents on the having made the journey empty.
First of all, we can cite the performance of pillar Lucio Sordoni. Aligned against his former club, the man who proudly sports one of the worst mullets in the Top 14 was one of the rare Racingmen to stand out in the first half with his activity and combativeness: “Lucio really wanted to have a big match here, because he knows the house,” confirmed his coach Frédéric Michalak. “We heard the public a little cheering him on, that must have galvanized him.”
Then, we can say that Racing took advantage of this match to give some experience to its young guard: “We are happy to see young people arriving, to see Noah (Zinzen), Lino (Julien), Junior (Kpoku) start the meeting as well as the entries of Dylan (Idrissi) and Kléo (Labarbe). I think that the young played a good game, they proved that they could also show themselves. In any case, Racing must also think about the future and must also have young people who are pushing and who have the ability to play against one of the best teams. ‘Europe, which won the URC and which, I think, will be very close to the final stages of the European Cup this year.”
Dayimani does damage
We have already mentioned it, but the entry of the substitutes has really given a boost to Stuart Lancaster’s protégés. More determined, their enthusiasm even spilled over to other hitherto discreet players, such as Ibrahim Diallo, named captain for this meeting. The movers Hacjivah Dayimani and Romain Taofifenua notably caused considerable damage to the Scottish defense which, thanks to their power, finally suffered the Racing law on collisions.
Finally, and this may be a small detail but for them it means a lot, Racing finally produced a match marked by discipline. Despite the strong pressure under which they played, the Ile-de-France players only conceded six penalties, without the slightest yellow card. A fact rare enough to be highlighted because let’s remember that Racing is the most undisciplined team in the Top 14 with 21 yellow cards in 14 matches. And the trend also applies to the Champions Cup, where they received two yellow cards against Harlequins and one against Sale. Bleeding stopped, then? The future will tell us.
Morocco
