Faraj Benlahoucine, Media365, published on Saturday December 7, 2024 at 11:22 p.m.
Racing 92 got their Champions Cup season off to a good start, dominating Harlequins with a score of 23-12. Disappointing in the Top 14, the Ciel et Blanc found some momentum. And the taste of victory too.
Disappointing 8th in the Top 14 and defeated in its last two outings, Racing 92 found the Champions Cup as an escape. Still exiled in Créteil, Ciel et Blanc dominated Harlequins this Saturday in their first match of the Champions Cup season (23-12). A victory placing them alongside Toulon in second position in group 4 with four units. However, this success was slow to take shape. The first fault was a try from the powerful 3rd row Alex Dombrandt (10th).
Nevertheless, this achievement probably had the effect of an electric shock on the Racingmen whose reaction gave rise to a well-made test. At the conclusion of a well-conducted collective action, Cameron Woki gave Nolann Le Garrec, who was responsible for scoring and converting his own try to give his team control of the match (7-5, 17th). Before the break, Wame Naituvi rushed headlong onto his right wing to flatten the second Ile-de-France achievement (12-5, 40th).
Naituvi and Spring decisive
Returning from the locker room, scrum half Will Porter reignited the suspense, with a beautiful run deceiving the sky and white defensive curtain (12-12, 44th). But Racing 92 made up for this defensive mistake. Dominating the debates in the first place, closing ranks in defense as well. On the offensive side, Wame Naituvi once again shone, signing a decisive race leading to Max Spring's try, served to the millimeter by his opener Antoine Gibert (20-12, 62nd).
At the end of the meeting, Nolann Le Garrec scored one last penalty (23-12) before his team resisted thirteen against fifteen. Author of a big match, Josua Tuisova received a yellow card for voluntarily going forward (80th). Like Ibrahim Diallo, made a mistake in a maul (80th +1). Two sanctions without consequence, however, the penalty of the Londoners beyond the siren did nothing. Well off to a good start in this competition, the Racingmen will try to continue next week on the pitch of the English team in Sale.
