THOMAS SAMSON / AFP
Inspired with ball in hand, the Toulouse residents beat the Ile-de-France leader (20-27) in Nanterre on Sunday evening at the end of the 13th day of Top 14.
The leader has fallen. In front of its home crowd, Racing 92 conceded its fifth defeat of the season against Stade Toulousain (20-27). The Ile-de-France residents scored only two tries, through Donovan Taofifenua (5th) then Tristan Tedder at the end of the match (75th).
The Toulouse residents registered four, by Antoine Dupont (16th), Piula Faasalele (30th), Guillaume Cramont (46th) and Ange Capuozzo (76th). They enter the top 4. Racing is still leader but sees its gap with Stade Français (2nd) and UBB (3rd) narrowing.
A hooked first half
Racing quickly took the lead in this clash of the 13e daytime. On a superb opening from Méliande towards his winger Taofifenua, the latter captured the ball to give the first advantage of this meeting after Tedder’s transformation (7-0, 5e). But the Stadium was quick to react. Led as usual by Antoine Dupont, the Rouge et Noir came back to the level 10 minutes later on a great inspiration from their captain (7-7, 15e) before increasing this lead thanks to Faasalele at the half-hour mark on an inspiration from the 2e line which surprised the Racing defense (10-12, 30e). But penalized again just before the break, the Stade players were subjected to the perfectly struck kicks of Tristan Tedder (21e37e) and therefore returned to the locker room trailing by a small point (13-12).
So close yet so far
After the break, Toulouse wanted to quickly increase their lead. On a carried ball, the Dacquois Guillaume Cramont, came to flatten the third try of the Stade (13-19, 45e). But after that, it was the locals who dominated. Imprecise, they took time to finally conclude their domination in this second act. It was under the leadership of Tristan Tedder that hope returned. First thanks to his foot (100% success), it was then with a try in the last minutes that the match got underway. After another melee, Tedder went to flatten and transform Racing’s second try (20-22, 74e). But just afterwards, it was Capuozzo who came to put an end to the Ile-de-France hopes. Stung, the reigning French champions chained quick passes and overtook the Racing defense. The Italian inherited the ball in front of the goal and went to flatten it to restore a decisive advantage to Stade Toulousain (20-27).