Nanterre (AFP)

Racing 92 dominated La Rochelle (26-22) at the end of a shock at the top of the table which kept its promises with six scored tries and suspense until the end, Sunday in Nanterre, in a late match of the 14th Top 14 day.

This victory allows the Ile-de-France residents to join their opponents of the day in second place with 50 points, two lengths behind the leader Toulouse, and may leave the Rochelais regrets who scored four tries and could have won if they had them all. processed.

For Laurent Travers, the Racing 92 coach, what should be remembered is the victory: "Even less good offensively, we won this match, and in terms of accounting, it is not negligible".

"We inevitably have a lot of regrets, reacted for his part the Rochelais captain Romain Sazy. We had failures at the foot, we lacked precision in touch, but the biggest regret is the 14 points we give ".

Racing 92, short winner in Montpellier (24-22) last weekend, wanted to redeem themselves at home, where they had lost their two previous meetings in front of Toulon (29-23) and UBB (33-32).

He put an end to this bad series thanks in particular to the success of his opener Antoine Gibert (23 years old), author of a clear foot (16 points).

"We did not manage to be efficient with the ball, we made disciplinary errors (but) what we will remember is the victory, because that's what will count at the end of the season, "said Racing 92 hooker Teddy Baubigny, who made the first try of the match, after the match, from the second minute.

- 3 tests in 12 minutes -

The Maritimes responded with a good try from New Zealand third row Victor Vito, back after nearly four months with a bicep injury (10-5, 19th), taking advantage of the yellow card inflicted in the center of the Racing Olivier Klemenczak, quarter of an hour of play.

But two successful penalties by Gibert later, the Ile-de-France club returned to the locker room with a comfortable lead (16-5).

A trickster attempt from the second row Dominic Bird from the start, transformed by the metronome Gibert (23-5, 43rd), allowed Laurent Travers' men to make the hole.

But the Maritimes responded with a strength try, attributed to third row Paul Boudehent and transformed with the help of the post by Ihaia West (23-10, 55th), then chained with scrum half Tawera Kerr-Barlow, who entered the game in place of Thomas Berjon (23-17th, 64th).

This highlight of the visitors even allowed them to come back to a point (23-22), after another try at the 67th of Alonso Munoz.

But Gibert gave a little air to his team ten minutes from time, before La Rochelle failed a few inches from the line.

© 2021 AFP