Racing 92 saw off USA Perpignan 55-25 in the Top 14 on Saturday, a result that keeps them nine points clear of their visitors in the table. The hosts never looked back after taking control in the opening exchanges, while Perpignan simply could not find an answer to the pressure applied.
By then, Racing had already established a rhythm that suited their style of play — quick ball, clean hands, and an ability to exploit gaps in the defensive line. Perpignan's defence got dragged out of position repeatedly, and by the time they switched to a back three, the damage was done. And here's the thing, this wasn't even close to being competitive after the first twenty minutes.
We had called for a home victory before kick-off, placing 70 per cent confidence on Racing 92 to close out the match. To be fair, the recent form suggested exactly this outcome — Perpignan had lost two of their last three away from home, while Racing had shown they could score heavily against weaker opposition. The prediction came true, though the margin was perhaps a touch wider than expected.
Racing 92 now sit ninth with ten points from five games, while Perpignan remain eleventh on nine. Neither side has anything to lose at this stage, but the gap between them means Racing can afford to be patient. Perpignan, meanwhile, have not won since their last trip to Bordeaux and are weighing up a move to change their approach.
What matters most is that Racing 92 finally put together a performance that reflected their potential rather than their inconsistency. They kept knocking on the door in previous fixtures, but this time they kicked the door down. Perpignan dug in until they couldn't, and the scoreboard told the whole story.
