Match Report: Racing 31 – 31 Chiefs

A try in the dying minutes of play secured a bonus-point draw for Racing 92 against Exeter Chiefs in France in round two of the EPCR Challenge Cup.

On a chilly Parisian afternoon, Chiefs were in the ascendancy for the majority of the encounter before Racing clawed back points in the second half as Chiefs’ error-count grew.

Former Chiefs academy player Junior Kpoku nearly had the first try of the day but a ferocious triple tackle from Dan John, Ben Coen and Kane James rotated the rampaging lock so that he was held up over the line.

A couple of minutes later however, scrum-half Kleo Labarbe took a pass out wide which forced Campbell Ridl to try to spin into a better defensive position, giving the Frenchman enough time to evade him and run in the try. The conversion came courtesy of Antoine Gibert.

Back-rower Martin Moloney scored Chiefs’ first on 14 minutes with a flying leap over the breakdown to thump the ball down directly beneath the posts after a quick and explosive period of pressure on the Racing line from the Chiefs pack. Coen’s clean conversion brought the sides level.

An individual pick-and-go from inches secured a second try for Chiefs. This time, it was youngster Kane James who deployed the move for five points before handing over to his fellow England U20 star Coen to slot the conversion.

Selesistino Ravutaumada with a flying leap through the air at the corner flag got Racing a second try but the conversion attempt rebounded off the uprights, keeping Chiefs in a narrow two point lead.

Almost immediately, match captain Lewis Pearson added five points to that lead. A fend off from Ridl sent Chiefs into the Racing half at pace before Rusi Tuima shrugged off an attempted tackle, lobbing a basketball style offload to his second row partner to complete the run-in for the try. Following a quick TMO check, Coen converted the score.

Chiefs had the bonus point wrapped up with two minutes to spare in the first half. Great work on the attack from Will Haydon-Wood and Ridl put the forwards within range to go for the short carries. Spotting the line at the feet of the Racing defenders, Tuima sniped the ball out of the ruck to dot it down. Coen’s conversion took Chiefs to a 16 point lead.

Half-time: Racing 12 – 28 Chiefs

Both sides rang the changes in the pack at the outset of the second half, bring fresh legs and new power to the pitch. Play as a result became more of a gritty arm wrestle as both sides fought for territory.

Racing looked to launch a comeback and were aided in their quest when Chiefs were reduced to 14 men on the hour mark. Tuima took the yellow card for repeated infringements after an error at the breakdown.

Using the man advantage, Racing mauled their way over with the imposing figure of Romain Taofifenua emerging from the rubble as try scorer. The conversion was secured by Geronimo Prisciantelli.

Coen committed to stealing ball at a ruck on Racing’s 10-metre line with 10 minutes to go and his efforts were rewarded with a kickable penalty. Having been handed the tee, the fly-half slotted the three points.

A split second of ill-discipline cost Chiefs a second yellow card with nine minutes left on the clock. Replacement Greg Fisilau was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on the halfway line.

As before, Racing responded immediately to score their bonus-point try. Donguy took a pop pass on the edge of the 22 and only have a retreating Joseph Dweba to beat to score. The conversion attempt, however, pulled wide.

Heartbreakingly for Chiefs, a try for Latrasse in the 83rd minute was scored directly beneath the posts, giving Prisciantelli an easy kick to level the score and bring the game to its conclusion.

Though a tough result to take, it was an extremely positive day for a number of Chiefs youngsters, most notably Ridl who was named player of the match on his EPCR debut.

Full-time: Racing 31 – 31 Chiefs

Racing 92: G Prisciantelli; N Donguy, G Fickou, J Manu, S Ravutaumada; A Agibert (Habosi 40’), K Labarbe (Latrasse 52’); E Njocke (Gogichashvili 43’), Y Basse (Leota 65’), G Kharaishvili (Bamba 43’), J Kpoku (Taofifenua 40’), W Rowlands (c) (Albuisson 53’), F Sanconnie, T Lainault, N Zinzen (Tagitagivalu 40’).

Tries: Labarbe, Ravutaumada, Taofifenua, Donguy, Latrasse Conversions: Gibert, Prisciantelli 2

Chiefs: W Haydon-Wood; D John, H Ascherl, W Rigg, C Ridl; B Coen, C Chapman (Cairns 65’); E Burger (Goodrick-Clarke 49’), J Heaven (Dweba 49’), J Roots (Mona 49’), L Pearson (c), R Tuima, R Capstick (Beckerleg 74’), M Moloney (E Roots 58’), K James (Fisilau 58’).

Unused replacement: Batson

Tries: Moloney, James, Pearson, Tuima Conversions: Coen 4 Penalties: Coen

Yellow card: Rusi Tuima, Greg Fisilau

Referee: Federico Vedovelli