Nanterre (AFP)

Racing 92 gleaned a victory with the offensive bonus to make the hole for the qualification for the quarter-finals of the European Cup, Friday at home against the Ospreys (40-27), failing to deliver a successful service and reassuring against Welsh yet limited.

More than about the victory of the Ile-de-France, the question of the evening related to the minute at which they were going to pocket the point of offensive bonus against the donkey cap of the competition (0 pt), already rolled the previous weekend on his land (40-19).

Welshmen who also lined up a rejuvenated team for this meeting disputed in almost deserted bays, populated by some 10,000 spectators who braved strikes in transport to attend the 300th professional match of the club's child, Henry Chavancy, entered alone on the synthetic of the Arena and replaced at the very end of the match under the cheers.

These loyal spectators were treated to an hardly exciting spectacle, due to the abysmal difference in level between the two teams from the time that Racing took the match seriously. In the first period, numerous errors and approximations spoiled the show despite laudable intentions on both sides.

Racing, led after a test by Luke Morgan (8th), waited until the 25th minute to offer a game launch worthy of the name: a combination between Ben Volavola, Louis Dupichot and Juan Imhoff for the second test of Argentine winger.

- Three tests cashed in 10 minutes -

The fourth attempt to warm up the five points of victory was signed Simon Zebo at the end of the first half (39th).

They allow Racing, with 17 points on the clock, to take off at the head of pool 4, the "pool of death" while waiting for the meeting between Munster (11 pts) and Saracens (6 pts), Saturday.

The Racingmen will no doubt take a look at it with the wish that the English beat the Irish at home: thus, a success on the last day against Munster at the Arena and the qualification would be, except cataclysm, in the pocket.

The enhanced victory is about all they had to remember from this evening. Because after a good first quarter of an hour in the second half, where they scored two new tries, they released the grip. Once the gap was created and Virimi Vakatawa and Maxime Machenaud came out, they cashed four new tries (including three in ten minutes) and ultimately cash almost thirty points at home ...

For the successful service with a view to the next rounds in the championship, where they are behind, they will have to come back.

© 2019 AFP