Despite having made a strong start to the match, the Racingmen conceded a 25-25 draw on their home turf against Lyon. It was Martin Méliande who gave Lou the two points of the draw with a penalty at the very last second.
It was the word on everyone's lips before the meeting: indiscipline. Has this Racing 92, widely favored in its indoor lair, fallen into its trap again to carry its opponent through an entire match thanks to too many penalties conceded? Where was he going this time to show off his power and his attacking play to secure a calm, highly anticipated victory after three defeats in the Top 14… The Racingmen made another mistake by not knowing how to kill a match well within their reach and by conceding a draw (22-22) against Lyon. The sharing of points is ultimately logical as we have seen it happen for this last rugby Sunday of the year 2024.
The first period of Racing is a model of its kind. How can a team that dominates so much in possession and territorially return to the locker room with the offensive bonus but only seven units in advance (MT: 19-12)? Quite simply by scoring sometimes beautiful tries over long sequences only to then depreciate everything with mistakes which leave the opponent, here the LOU, in the match. It was also Lyon who opened the scoring with a penalty from Léo Berdeu after a strong first phase in the Racing camp (6th, 0-3). A highlight which will be practically orphaned in this first act for the Rhone residents. In 16 minutes, however, Racing 92 would then score three tries between the 16th and 32nd minutes.
First it was Captain Fickou who set the example by finishing the job after a penetrating group from a 5m throw-in (16th, 7-3). It was then Cameron Woki who in turn flattened four minutes later on a service from Fickou to the right to bury Lyon's hopes (20th, 12-6). Finally, after Baptiste Couilloud's yellow which could have cost a penalty try, it was finally Henry Arundell who planted a superb bonus try after a very long offensive sequence where Gaël Fickou was once again the decisive passer (32nd, 19-9 ). It's not the score at the break because a foul and a yellow card from Romain Taofifenua after the siren then offers a fourth penalty to Léo Berdeu who doesn't ask for that much (MT, 19-12).
Too many mistakes from Racing, a deserving LOU
The second half is not really a delight for fans of attacking rugby. Racing still dominates but lost its captain at the break and the attack without Fickou is no longer the same as he was decisive for forty minutes. The opportunities are few in number but exist, always annihilated by errors but especially mistakes. So it is the scorers who respond to each other. The young Martin Meliande replaced Berdeu at the boot, out injured and keeping his team within shooting range (72nd, 22-15). Racing is worried but still has 5 points from victory. However, the match ended with a loss of the ball and a gesture from elsewhere by Dylan Cretin. Like a wide opener, the 3rd line sends a small ball on the left wing to Semi Radradra for the try that changes everything (76th, 22-22).
The end of the match is unbearable with Le Garrec who believes he gives his team the victory with a penalty in the 79th minute (25-22) but this ultimately frustrating but essential lead is immediately erased by a new avoidable fault. A forward ball taken in front offers Meliande the equalizing ball in the axis after the siren (80th + 1, 25-25). In the space of five minutes, Racing went from winning 5 points and moving up to 7th place to just 2 points and 9th place. The LOU operation is excellent even if invisible in the ranking.
