Despite a match on alternating current, Racing 92 was carried by its center pair Fickou-Saili to win against Stade Rochelais (32-10 final score). The captain of the Ile-de-France residents, called into question for his performances in recent weeks, responded. On the contrary, the indiscipline of Teddy Thomas and Pierre Bourgarit was fatal for the valiant Rochelais who left Ile de France empty-handed.
The tops
Number 12 of Racing 92 won his duel against Jonathan Danty. However, a customer was waiting for him opposite, but the New Zealander did the job. In a pretty crazy start to the match, where both teams decided to play a lothe is decisive by extending his pass to Juan Imhoff who scored the first of four tries for Racing. An important action which launched his team and precipitated the fall of the Maritimes.
Since his disappointing World Cup with the Blues, Gaël Fickou has found rhythm again. For him, unlike other French internationals, the fact of quickly resuming competition was more saving than negative. Against La Rochelle, the captain of Racing 92 had a good match. Valuable in defense, especially in the second half, he made the right choices and his association with Francis Saili worked well. “Gaël told me that he expected more from himself” told Fabien Galthié in the exclusive interview to be found in our columns. The questioning of the Ile-de-France leader seems to have worked.
The maritime number eight did not miss his match. Overpowering with the ball in hand, always offering a solution for his partners, he marks the test of hope for a Stade Rochelais quickly reduced to fourteen. In the absence of Grégory Alldritt, the former Racing player is more than filling the interim role. Since his arrival in La Rochelle, Tanga has progressed a lot. Even more so this year when he takes even more responsibility. He is the forward who made the most runs in the match.
The flops
The winger, back in a room where he played several seasons, did not show off. He tried a lot, and even made a very good pass after contact. But there was also waste. He made a missed defensive climb on the opponent’s first try. With center UJ Seuteni, they made suicidal surges and Teddy Thomas ended up overwhelmed by Francis Saili. His meeting ended early after a red card. After a little kick over the top, perhaps not wise at the entrance to his 22 meters, he clotheslined Nolann Le Garrec, an uncontrolled gesture which cost him a red card…
The best thrower in La Rochelle’s touchline in this match was perhaps Teddy Iribaren. This shows the problem of the maritime alignment… Invited to throw after Pierre Bourgarit’s yellow card, the scrum half did not succeed in finding his jumper but at least managed to find a partner in alignment. Coming into play during this numerical inferiority, Sacha Idoumi missed his two throws. Pierre Bourgarit lost three rounds of ammunition. He also cost a penalty try and, for the same action, received a yellow card. Summary of the accounts: fourteen points conceded over this period and the Ile-de-France residents who broke away… The worst will perhaps be this try which was refused. While he thought he would bring the Rochelais back into the match with a second try, he committed a forward attack when flattening, after a very good ball carried by his team (54e). Cruel…
Two days earlier, for his first with the Racing jersey, the Englishman amazed with a hat-trick in Toulon. The machine was underway, we thought… For the following match, he did not benefit from favorable conditions with pouring rain at Jean-Bouin. Even though our man comes from the other side of the Channel, this weather did not allow him to highlight his qualities with the ball in hand and his impressive speed. But for his premiere at the Paris Défense Arena, Henry Arrundell failed to stand out.
In a fairly open encounter, he was not found. What a shame not to rely on the speed of the man who was positioned at the back today when the Rochelais were only thirteen on the pitch, instead of falling into the trap of opposing rugby ping-pong… On one of his rare balls touched, he tried to challenge the opposing defense. Not a wise idea: against Levani Botia, UJ Seuteni and Yoan Tanga, he inevitably lost the collision (50e). He certainly finished his meeting well with a try as a pure finisher. But seeing him finish this meeting with only 27 meters covered with the ball, zero crossings and zero beaten defenders is still disappointing…