Racing goes to the Arena
Racing 92 suffered until the end during its last two outings to overcome at home La Rochelle (26-22) and Lyon (34-26), and keep the pace imposed in the lead by Stade Toulouse, leader three points ahead. Still deprived of its internationals, including the Scottish opener Finn Russell, the Hauts-de-Seine club will this time want to spare themselves any unnecessary suspense against Castres for its third consecutive match under the roof of the Arena. The Tarnais, carried by their experienced hinge Kockott-Urdapilleta, took a big step towards maintaining last weekend by dominating Montpellier with a bonus (48-17) and will therefore move without pressure on Friday.
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Toulouse on a hellish train
Duplicates do nothing. Even deprived of Antoine Dupont and his other Blues in this period of the Six Nations Tournament, the Toulouse Stadium continues to chain success. He has eight in a row in the championship before a perilous trip to Lyon on Saturday, passed very close to a big blow on the field of Racing 92 on the last day. Barely for several weeks, the LOU really has no time to waste if he wants to stay in the race for the top 6. “It will eventually turn”, positive the Lyon coach Pierre Mignoni.
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La Rochelle, life after Mayol
Like Toulouse, La Rochelle does not seem to suffer unduly from the absence of its internationals, Grégory Alldritt and Brice Dulin in particular, brilliant in the blue jersey. The Maritimes, faithful to their game plan, remain on a feat in Mayol (29-11), where RC Toulon had not fallen since September 2019.
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