Nanterre (AFP)

It's a real blow: Bordeaux-Bègles won Saturday an arm-wrestling test at the Arena against Racing 92 (34-27), confirming its excellent start to the season and preventing the Parisians from returning to the standings. Top 14, during the 10th day.

Bordeaux, who had not won since 2007 in the Hauts-de-Seine, probably waiting Cristophe Urios. It's done for the Girondins and their new manager, who does not yet like this Arena ("a village hall") but with whom, finally, the UBB (2nd, 34 pts) dreams to access for the first time in a final phase since 2012 and its rise in the elite.

In this crazy championship, the Racing 92 misses him the opportunity to climb the top of the table and remains in the belly soft despite the defensive bonus (9th, 19 pts).

- Vakatawa Vs. Radradra -

If it is Bordeaux who has dominated entry, it is indeed the Sky and White who scored first, on their first incursion. Intense since the end of the World Cup, Finn Russell has once again made his magic stand, for Juan Imhoff, who resisted a Bordeaux but not the return of Radradra to find a touch. On the ensuing opposition, the ball came to Virimi Vakatawa, who was able to flatten quietly (18th).

Logically Bordeaux quickly returned, taking advantage of the indiscipline of racing in melee. And who other than Semi Radradra, who has just announced his departure for Bristol at the end of the season, to answer Vakatawa? After several fixing times, the Fijian resisted three players to equalize a test everywhere and allow Matthieu Jalibert to transform (26th, 7-5).

In the N.13 duel, Vakatawa gave a try-out test at Radradra after an action started once again by Russell's kick. A ruck then a nice combination in the axis between Russell and Vakatawa and we had the second test Ile, transformed by Iribaren (15-7).

The match Vakatawa-Radradra then took another color, yellow: the first one puts the Racing in numerical inferiority and sees Bordeaux pass before half-time after a nice jumped pass of Jalibert and an action ended by Cameron Woki ( 40th, 15-17).

Second period and mirror reversed side penalty: it is Radradra's turn to leave 14 teammates for a dangerous veneer (42nd). Racing takes full advantage and marks twice: in force by the fresh Cedate Gomes Sa came into play and then Teddy Baubigny (48) on a long touch (27-17).

But, more lively, more insistent, more fiery, Bordeaux has taken the last shots to land the opponent, thanks to the power of Lekso Kaulashvili (58th) and, again, an essay by Radradra after a raise and a chistera Magic of Santiago Cordero (67th, 34-27).

© 2019 AFP