Fear in Créteil. Outclassed by Stade Français (40-24) on Sunday, Racing 92 has its head upside down. Eighth in the Rugby Top 14 after 10 days, the Hauts-de-Seine club hosts Stade Toulousain, reigning French and European champion, this Saturday (2:30 p.m.) at the Dominique-Duvauchelle stadium in Créteil. The Val-de-Marne venue is in fact the usual replacement stadium this year for the Ciel et Blanc, when their Paris venue La Défense Arena is occupied, which is the case this weekend (Tayc concert ).
At the Jean-Bouin stadium, Cameron Woki’s teammates suffered a defeat that was “not acceptable and hard to take”, recognizes the international second row, and seemed to give up on the match after 30 minutes of play. Racing, which brought forward its resumption of a day to mark the occasion, “lack of leadership” for Frédéric Michalak, the attack coach. “Against Toulouse, it’s always a match of fear,” warned the former Rouge et Noir.
The leaders and reigning champions, who crushed Perpignan 41-9 last week, will travel to Créteil without some of their internationals, on leave (their captain Antoine Dupont, but also Alexandre Roumat, Peato Mauvaka, Thibaud Flament, Emmanuel Meafou …) but still line up on the match sheet Thomas Ramos, François Cros, Julien Marchand, Romain Ntamack at the opening and Anthony Jelonch in the second row. Enough to be frightening indeed.
On the Racing side, after having participated in the three victories of the French XV during these autumn tests, Gaël Fickou continues as the starter in the center. Dan Lancaster, the son of trainer Stuart Lancaster, is preferred at the opening to Antoine Gibert, and associated at the hinge with Nolann Le Garrec.
The composition of the teams
Racing 92 – Stade Toulousain, Saturday (2:30 p.m.) in Créteil.
Racing 92 : Tedder – D. Taofifenua, Fickou, Tuisova, Habosi – Lancaster (o), Le Garrec (m) – Woki, Zinze, Dayimani – Rowlands, Kpoku – Sortoni, Kaitu’u, Gogichashvili.
Substitutes : Tarrit, Ben Arous, Palu, Joseph, Gibert, Naituvi, Arundell, Laclayat.
Toulouse : Ramos – Delibes, Barrassi, Chocobares, Lebel – R. Natamack (o), Graou (m) – Cros, Banos, Willis (cap.) – Vergé, Jelonch – Aldegheri, Marchand, Ainu’u.
Substitutes : Cramont, Neti, J. Brennan, T. Ntamack, Castro-Ferreira, Capuozzo, Costes, Merkler.
