Racing 92, overwhelmed by La Rochelle, beaten again

With AFP

While he thought he had turned the match around, Racing 92 lost at the very end of the home match against Rochelle 17 to 16, Saturday in Créteil at the Dominique-Duvauchelle stadium for the 4th day of Top 14.

Faced with his future La Rochelle teammates, whom he will join next summer, Racing scrum half Nolan Le Garrec (22 years old, 5 caps) author of all the points for his team, nevertheless tried everything, scoring the first try of the match (54th) to give hope to his family.

But a late try from Blues pillar Reda Wardi (75th) then a penalty from Teddy Iribaren (80th) allowed the Rochelais to inflict new disillusionment on Racing 92, a week after the lesson learned in Bordeaux (52-34).

La Rochelle, which had outclassed Pau (49-25) during the 3rd day, for its part complicated its task for a long time, and almost paid dearly for its indiscipline and lack of realism.

The visitors’ 9-6 half-time scoreline did not reflect the pace of the first half, marred only by inefficiency at the conclusion.

A pass to the foot of Antoine Hastoy poorly controlled by winger Jack Nowell (8th), a foot in touch from Dillyn Leyds on the other wing (13th), and here are two tries gone for Ronan O’Gara’s players.

The Racingmen were not left out as Spring committed a forward dive by diving in the corner (32nd) on one of the major actions of the Ile-de-France residents.

Wardi’s try and Iribaren’s penalty in the last five minutes

Penalized several times on the ground, the Rochelais exposed themselves to the boot of Le Garrec (11th, 20th), preferred to the goal by Owen Farrell, in difficulty in this sector last week and not yet at his best on Dominique’s field -Duvauchelle. But Hastoy materialized his team’s good streaks (8th, 17th, 25th).

In a much more closed second period, the Rochelais ended up paying for their indiscipline, with a yellow card for the powerful Australian second row Will Skelton, guilty of a dangerous clearance on Le Garrec (47th).

A few minutes later, the explosive scrum half concluded in person behind a good maul from his forwards, to finish in the goal with a feint and a hook (54th), before punishing yet another foul on the La Rochelle soil (60th).

Abandoning their ambitious ambitions for a powerful game that they mastered better, the Rochelais then forced the game at the very end of the match. A try from Wardi (75th), flush after a monstrous charge from Georges-Henri Colombe, then a penalty from Iribaren (80th), gave them their first away victory this season.