Brazil Outclassed by Racing 92

Brazil was outclassed by Racing 92 on Saturday, losing 45-7. The fixture was the second match of the inaugural Rugby Summer Cup being hosted by Georgia.

The match was the opening game for Racing 92 ahead of the upcoming 2018-2019 Top 14 season. For Brazil it was a fixture to make-up for the lack of rugby during the recent June Internationals.

The result was never in doubt. Brazil was arguably up against its strongest ever opponent. Racing 92 had world class players from a range of countries besides France involved. These included Argentina, Ireland, New Zealand, Samoa, and Scotland.

Brazil, though did score a sensational try. Scoring it was winger Lucas Tranquez who did so for the second score of the game to make it a 7-7 scoreline early on in the piece. It had evened the scores after Scotland and Ireland combined though Russell and Zebo for the game’s opening score.

Racing 92 regained the lead quickly, doing so through Samoan international Census Johnston. Brazilian fly half Josh Reeves was off target with a penalty shortly thereafter. It would be the final opportunity to score points in the game from the men in green.

Ibrahim Diallo scored next, combing with former All Black Joe Rokocoko. The Fijian-born speedster showed he still has it despite now being aged 35 to set-up Diallo.

A break from Russell saw replacement Raphaël Lagarde adding a try shortly thereafter. With it Racing 92 held a 26-7 half time lead.

In the second half Racing 92 ran-in three further tries, doing so with our conceding any. Issam Hamel, Juan Imhoff, and Ben Volavola each touched down once.

Both Brazil and Racing 92 will play again on Friday. The second, and final round, of the Rugby Summer Cup sees Brazil facing the Georgia XV and Racing 92 taking-on the Argentina XV.

SCORING

RACING 92
Try: Zebo, Johnston, Diallo, Lagarde, Hamel, Imhoff, Volavola
Conversion: Lagarde (3), Russell (2)

BRAZIL
Try: Tranquez
Conversion: Reeves

RACING 92
1 Vasil Kakovin, 2 Issam Hamel, 3 Georges-Henri Colombe, 4 Edwin Maka, 5 Donnacha Ryan, 6 Esteban Abadie, 7 Ibrahim Diallo, 8 Antonie Claassen, 9 Xavier Chauveau (capt.), 10 Finn Russell, 11 Anatole Pauvert, 12 Olivier Klemenczak, 13 Léonard Paris, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 15 Simon Zebo

Replacements: 16 Ole Avei, 17 Guram Gogichashvili, 18 Census Johnston, 19 Boris Palu, 20 Baptiste Chouzenoux, 21 Raphaël Lagarde, 22 Juan Imhoff, 23 Antoine Gibert, 24 Théo Costosseque, 25 Luigi Tarozzi, 26 Ben Volavola

BRAZIL
1 Lucas Abud, 2 Yan Rosetti (capt.), 3 Jardel Vettorato, 4 Lucas Piero, 5 Gabriel Paganini, 6 Cléber Dias, 7 Arthur Bergo, 8 André Arruda, 9 Lucas Duque, 10 Josh Reeves, 11 Stefano Giantorno, 12 Moisés Duque, 13 Felipe Sancery, 14 Lucas Tranquez, 15 Daniel Sancery

Replacements: 16 Caíque Silva, 17 David Muller, 18 Wilton Rebolo, 19 Luiz Vieira, 20 Michael Moraes, 21 Daniel Lima, 22 Robert Tenório, 23 De Wet van Niekerk, 24 Matheus Rocha, 25 Matheus Claudio, 26 Valentin Garcia