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Racing close in on top six with Bayonne thrashing

Racing 92's Teddy Thomas

Racing 92 boosted their hopes of making the Top 14 play-offs with a 59-20 trouncing of lowly Bayonne.

Although the defending champions began Saturday’s fixture at Stade Yves Du Manoir sitting 10th in the table, Racing knew a win would lift them to seventh.

And Racing now sit just one point adrift of sixth-placed Toulouse, having run in nine tries against the league’s bottom club.

Two Martin Bustos Moyano penalties gave Bayonne an early advantage and the visitors were still very much in the contest after 27 minutes, when Romain Martial collected a Willie du Plessis kick to touch down after tries from Brice Dulin and Henry Chavancy for Racing.

From that moment on, it was one-way traffic, however, as Racing ruthlessly seized control.

Gerbrandt Grobler and Teddy Thomas claimed two tries apiece, while there were also touchdowns for Dimitri Szarzewski, James Hart and Marc Andreu.

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J
JW 7 minutes ago
Let's be real about these All Blacks

The opening loss to Argentina by 38-30..

Was anything but fine margins, the scoreline was flattering for that game. They were beat in every margin but most emphatically be effort of Argentina. They were slow and likely arrogant in their prep following the England series. You can see the effect on the selection and poor messaging all the playmakers started receiving from the coaching setup there after.


Otherwise though there was also a lot of really good stuff that can too easily be labelled as lucky by people intent on making a point. The team was far from certain and clinical though and the best that can be said of their losses was that they were largely due to some atrocious decisions with cards twice against SA and the neckroll last weekend (you can't take away the 14 point try, that is typical French rugby and to be expected).


This team is good enough to be able to cope with those sorts of difficulties if they could just execute a bit better (but only as well as they have traditionally mind you). Sound selections aside. Some good positivity in this article but we know it's not going to be easy as the ABs have just been trying to return to their DNA after Fosters control but countries like Aussie have a much bigger task in that respect and SA is even trying to change their DNA (again). Those two opponents (along with France obviously) are going to provide some tough competition in seeing who can lead into the 2027 RWC with the best prospects and form behind them.

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