This Sunday evening (9:05 p.m.), the 10e Top 14 day will conclude with the heated Parisian derby between Stade Français Paris and Racing 92. Which has the advantage before kick-off?
This Sunday evening at the end of the 10th day of Top 14, Stade Français welcomes Racing 92 in a match that smells like gunpowder. Stakes, players to follow, duplicates… Le Figaro deciphers the derby.
The two players to watch
Louis Carbonel’s performance will be closely scrutinized this Sunday evening. The Parisian opener, who arrived last off-season with a (almost) guaranteed starting place, will have to guide his team. Brilliant during the last Parisian victory against Clermont, the French international (5 caps) showed some flashes. He will undoubtedly need a benchmark match to get the ball rolling, and what better way to do it than a derby?
As for Racing 92, it is the performance of the other opener, Antoine Gibert, which could weigh in the balance. In the absence of certain executives and especially Nolann Le Garrec, selected, and Owen Farrell, injured, the Racingman will have the keys to the truck. Gibert notably remains on an excellent score produced in Pau before the international break.
Doubles, small advantage Stade Français
During this international break, Racing 92 has four absentees. Nolann Le Garrec and Gaël Fickou played with the French XV against Argentina on Friday evening, the powerful Josua Tuisova is with the Fijian selection and the second row Will Rowlands is requisitioned by Wales.
Stade Français will also have to do without four of its players. Léo Barré faced the Pumas with the Blues. He met his Parisian teammate and Argentinian pillar Francisco Gomez Kodela. Hooker Giacomo Nicotera was called up to Italy. Finally, the young prodigy Turagacoke was selected with Fiji to face Ireland.
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The stakes, fear at the Stade Français
Without a bad pun, the Parisian derby is crucial. On the other hand, the victory is even more important for Stade Français, sad 13e and penultimate in the ranking. In the last nine matches, Laurent Labit’s players have only won three, against Vannes, Montpellier and Clermont. In the meantime, the Pink Soldiers had been shaken by the ousting of head coach Karim Ghezal. In the event of a victory, the Parisians could give themselves a little breathing room at the bottom of a ranking that is still so tight.
The Racingmen combine the good and the not so good. 8e just one point from sixth place, Stuart Lancaster’s men also have an eight-point lead over their evening opponent. Racing 92 remains on two consecutive victories, against Perpignan at the Paris La Défense Arena and against the Section Paloise at the Hameau.
Confrontations, clear advantage Racing 92
Are the Ciel et Blanc the black cats of Parisians? It’s possible. In the last 10 confrontations, Racing 92 has won… eight! On the other hand, the last meeting between these two teams, last February, turned to the advantage of the players from the capital (11-27). Most of these confrontations also gave rise to very open matches, regularly with more than 40 points.
