RACING METRO SUFFERED their seventh Top 14 loss of the season after going down 6-0 to Oyonnax this evening.
Jonny Sexton played the full eighty minutes for the Parisians, but couldn’t help prevent the nail-biting defeat. The Ireland out-half missed with the only two penalty attempts he had, with both slipping narrowly wide.
The former Leinster man shook his head and directed a wry smile at assistant coach Ronan O’Gara after the second penalty. Both efforts had looked like being on target before the strong wind pulled them narrowly off course at the last moment.
Oyonnax were deserved winners for their sheer desire and fight in contact during what was an arm wrestle of a match on a desperately poor pitch at Stade Charles Mathon. The fact that Christophe Urios’ side work off a budget in the region of €9.2 million – compared to Racing’s €23 million – makes this achievement all the greater.
The result comes as less of a shock when Oyonnax’s previous home victories over the likes of Clermont, Castres and Toulon are taken into account. Last season’s Pro D2 champions have made the Charles Mathon a true fortress, and the town’s 23,000 population are renowned as some of the best rugby supporters in France.
Urios’ men were forced to repel an extended onslaught metres out from their try-line in the closing minutes, with some heart-stopping moments rescued by their dogged defence.
For Racing, this defeat comes as a stark contrast to the home victory over Toulon last weekend, and again suggests that Jack Lorenzetti’s club have some way to go before they will be competing for trophies. Mike Phillips and Dan Lydiate were left on the bench for this clash, with their late substitute appearances not proving enough to turn the game around.
Oyonnax are minnows yet their budget is greater than Munster’s & Connacht’s combined!
The money they have is crazy.
Just goes to show what Irish provinces do with the available funds and of course helped by the natural athletic talent we can churn out here.
Not really an accurate comparison. Most of Munster’s big players are centrally contracted so wouldn’t count as being on Munster’s budget.
French budgets quoted aren’t the amount they spend on players, it is their total budget for all activities on and off the field.
O gara might get 80 minutes not to say 10
Do a David Holwell and keep coming out of retirement.
All going pear shaped for Sexton by the look of it
Just last week. Sounds like he’s doing ok. Strong winds today too. http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/sexton-eclipses-wilkinson-as-racing-get-back-to-winning-ways-29874005.html
He should just bite the bullet and return to Leinster. If his form doesn’t pick up over the remainder of this season and next season he could yet lose his starting world cup place to Jackson or Madigan if they continue to improve.
Back to Leinster? . I think they have two contracted out halves.that s not going to happen.hes made his bed, no going back to ireland for a while
If he were to come back the irony is only Munster might have a spot for him. Imagine that…. lol
His taxi driver might know his way around Cork and Limerick a bit better than he knows Paris!
Sexton’ peaked. He did it in 2011.
He ain’t getting any better as a player.
Invest in Madigan, Keatley and Hanrahan.
Sexton can’t kick when it counts….
Bullshit! Sexton is a big game player.
I am a Leinster fan. He cost Ireland the game against NZ.
Sexton is not a big game player. Time to look elsewhere and give others a chance at international level.
Keatly really? He was awful against Ulster. Hasn’t the class or bottle.
Anyone who thinks we would have been put in a position to win the nz match were Jackson or Madigan starting is deluded .
He’d never pop down south here and park up in Thomond Park by any chance?:) they need time tbh, new coaches aswel as new players!! I think his time there will be well worth it, hope he does well tbh
Sexton was a big game player and a big game changer, remember the HC final when he gave a Man of the Year performance, not just a Man of the Match performance against Northampton. But all the evidence since then suggests that he has peaked. His kicking averages on crucial match defining kicks are very, very poor by international standards and his move to France seems to have exacerbated that problem. As a result his all round game management appears to be suffering. I hope for the sake of Irish rugby he recovers his form and for his own sake. He has given a huge amount already to Leinster and Ireland. I do however believe there is a possibility that JJ Hanrahan could develop into a true world class 10.
PostScript to that HC final. The Leinster fight back cost Jim Mallinder the England job.
Nothing as complicated as that really, the pack aren’t up to it basically and without a platform any Outhalf in the world will suffer.
Whoever was given remit to sing players, and I don’t believe for a minute that it was the ex-Castres coaches Travers and Labit should be sacked frankly some awful overly expensive signings mainly up front.
They signed Mujati and Tonguaia from Saints for big money and those two were already shot rugby wise. Kruger another ex-Saint who by Saffer (and Top 14) second row standards is lightweight. Another prop Khinchagishvili from Brive who has a LOT of mileage on the clock.
Feel sorry for Sexton, France could be a good move for him unfortunately he’s at a basket case of a club currently. He just needs to keep his focus, there’ll be a big pack clear out this summer and one put together to match the talents in the backs…
Delighted!
Ulster supporters have officially become the most annoying supporters in the country. You beat a munster team (barely and who out scored ye on try count) that was missing the likes of earls, Murray, Zebo, Downey, Ryan, sherry. Ye have not one anything in the last 10+ years yet ye carry on like ye are world beaters!! Leinster are still the best team in the country and that’s from a munster supporter.
I thought Munster were superb last night, especially in the first ha ha half
What’s that got to do with the story???
**won