Everything happened very quickly. First, a try from Boris Palu under the posts, after a pick and go sequence, and a transformation from Dan Lancaster (47th, 13-13). Then, in the following minutes, a perfect foot pass from Antoine Gibert to serve Wame Naituvi. And a new transformation (50th, 13-20).
In three short minutes, Racing 92 (23-33) turned around a game in which it had until then been insipid. This Saturday, the Ciel et Blanc won in pain in Pau during the 9th day of the Top 14. Because even after the equalizer from Joe Simmonds, after having deposited Josua Tuisova (60th, 20-20 after transformation), the Ile-de-France residents have found the resources to impose themselves.
A gala Gibert
Finally, it would be more accurate to say that Antoine Gibert found inspiration. Again. As on Racing's first try, the opening half placed a perfectly timed left-handed kick into Josua Tuisova's run. The three-quarter center was flattened (65th, 20-25). However, Gibert was not even a starter. He came on in the 33rd in place of an injured Owen Farrell.
Pau then reduced the gap with a penalty from an impeccable Joe Simmonds on the foot (69th, 23-25). But that was without counting on the inevitable Antoine Gibert! The opener planted a drop to keep his team one try away (73rd, 23-28). Then Sam Jones ratified the Ile-de-France success following very good work from Josua Tuisova (75th, 23-33 after transformation).
In the first period, the Pau Section quickly scored the first try of the match. After a carried ball, the second line Rémi Picquette flattened. Béarnais opener Joe Simmonds transformed (12th, 7-0). The rest was a matter of kicks. Dan Lancaster scored two penalties for Racing (15th at 7-3 then 35th at 13-6). In the meantime, Joe Simmonds was also on target, from 30 m (28th, 10-3) then on a drop (32nd, 13-3).
The big scare of Tagitagivalu
The meeting was also marked by the exit of the unfortunate Lekima Tagitagivalu. The head of the Fijian second row of the Paloise Section hit the knee of a Racingmen. Stunned, the 29-year-old was evacuated on a stretcher. Then an ambulance took him to the hospital.
After this success, Racing 92 moved back to seventh place, with 22 points, and recorded their second victory of the season away from home. He distances himself from his opponent of the day, 12th with 16 units on the clock. Downside all the same: the exit of Cameron Woki after a red card at the end of the match (80th + 2).
