RACING 26 – CONNACHT 22
MT: 19-8; behind closed doors ; arbitrator: M. Barnes (England)
Winners: 4E Colombe (6), Beale (17), D. Taofifenua (24), Bird (51); 3T Machenaud (6), Iribaren (17, 51)
Defeated: 3E Healy (40), Wootton (62), Oliver (76) ; 2T Carty (62), Daly (76) ; 1P Carty (11)
Score evolution: 7-0, 7-3, 14-3, 19-3, 19-8/26-8, 26-15, 26-22
Racing 92 : Beale; Thomas, Vakatawa, Chavancy, D. Taofifenua (o) Russell, (m) Iribaren (Machenaud, 60); Chouzenoux, Sanconnie, Lauret (Diallo, 60); Bird, B. Le Roux (Do. Ryan, 68); Colombe (Gomes Sa, 51), Chat (Le Guen, 19), Ben Arous (Gogichashvili, 51). Rempl. time. : Iribaren by Machenaud (3-14)
Connacht : Porch (O’Halloran, 76) ; Wootton, Arnold (Akin, 51), Daly, Healy (o) Carty, (m) Marmion (Blade, 51) ; Butler (Oliver, 14), Boyle, Masterson (Prendergast, 36) ; Dillane, Masterson ; Bealham (Aungier, 51), Heffernan (Delahunt, 66), Buckley (Duggan, 63)
Two months after its infuriating defeat in the final, Racing 92 returned to the European Cup with an enhanced victory against Connacht (26-22) but was scared at the end of the match after lacking in efficiency. Like Toulouse, Clermont and Lyon, its French rivals in Pool B of a revamped formula, and like Exeter, Racing has launched this European campaign well by taking the offensive bonus. He will have to win at the Harlequins in a week to stay in the race for the quarterfinals.
In the closed camera of the Arena, the “sky and white” took control, all in power, by the pillar Georges-Henri Colombe (7-0, 6).
Back from a concussion protocol, Iribaren initiated the action of the 2nd try, his candle allowing Virimi Vakatawa to be launched for his first show. Tackled, the French international got rid of his opponent to overflow and serve Kurtley Beale (14-3, 17).
For the third, it was Finn Russell, back from injury, who took the initiative with a superb long jump pass for Vakatawa, who offered his 2nd assist for a spectacular try from Donovan Taofifenua, tackled on the post. corner (19-3, 24).
Difficult end of the game
The offensive bonus was well acquired by Dominic Bird (26-8, 52), but Racing was scared to the end in a match that he nevertheless had well in hand.
Just after another try canceled because of a blatant advance from Thomas, Connacht scored a third try by Conor Oliver (26-22, 75) and kept the pressure on until the end. Racing will have to raise the slider to get on the quarters train.
> 1st day
POOL A
Friday
Northampton – Bordeaux-Bègles12-16
Saturday
Toulon – Sale26-14
Bath – Llanelli19-23
Newport – Wasps8-24
Montpellier – Leinster14-35
edinburgh – La Rochelle
POOL B
Friday
Ulster – Toulouse22-29
Saturday
Bristol – Clermont38-51
Here
LYON – Gloucester55-10
RACING 92 – Connacht26-22
Exeter – Glasgow42-0
Munster – Harlequins26-14
> 2nd day
Pool A
Friday, December 18
18 h 30 : Llanelli – Toulon
21 hours : Wasps – Montpellier
Saturday 19
14 hours : Leinster – Northampton
16 h 15 : La Rochelle – Bath (France 2)
21 hours : Sale – edinburgh,
Bordeaux-Begles – Newport
Pool B
Saturday 19
14 hours : Glasgow – Lyon
16 h 15 : Gloucester – Ulster
18 h 30 : Clermont – Munster
Sunday 20
2 p.m .: Harlequins – Racing 92
16 h 15 : Toulouse – Exeter (France 2)
18 h 30 : Connacht – Bristol
–
