Top 14 round one: Metro Racing downs Brive
Metro Racing was able to pull off a close win away from home against Brive in their first match of the 2010-11 season.
Racing held a large lead early on, but allowed Brive to close the gap as they entered the second-half. Metro briefly opened the lead back up, until Brive made a late push, which forced a very important late penalty, allowing Metro to hang onto a 23-18 victory.
Recap
Metro Racing could not have asked for a better start, as Jonathan Wisniewski crossed the whitewash for a try, and hit a conversion to give them a 7-0 lead in only the second minute of the match. Wisniewski then registered his first penalty of the game in the 17th minute to push the lead out to 10-0.
It was not until the 25th minute when Fabrice Estebanez put through a penalty that Brive able to register a point.
Just before the end of the half Brive’s Alexis Palisson put home the squad’s second penalty of the game to close the Racing advantage to 10-6.
After the break Palisson picked up where he left off, knocking down a second penalty and getting his team within one.
Wisniewski was able to counter with a penalty of his own in the 52nd minute, giving Racing a bit more breathing room at 13-9.
Jacques Cronje improved Racing’s chances in the 63rd minute by tumbling over the line for a try, which was followed by a Wisniewski conversion to make it a 20-9 game in favour of the away team.
Just as the game looked to be in the bag for Racing, Brive began to press. Palisson hit two consecutive penalties in the 73rd and 78th minutes to close the gap to 20-15.
Wisniewski followed with a penalty in the 79th minute, which proved to be too much, as Brive could only muster another penalty from Palisson in the 80th minute, to finish the game off at 23-18.
Racing’s Wisniewski controlled the game for his club, coming up clutch in the big moments. In the end Wisniewski accounted for the vast majority of Racing’s offense, amassing 18 of the 23 points.
Brive’s inability to cross the threshold meant that Palisson was left to win the game for the club. Palisson did his job scoring all but three points, however without any tries Brive was forced to settle for a loss.
Analysis
Racing Metro will be happy with their start to the season, coming away with a win without the injured Frans Steyn. Wisniewski showed that he will be at the heart of Racing’s offense in 2010-11, and is capable of making the big kicks in important situations.
Brive is predicted to have a difficult season this year but Palisson’s performance in their first week gives them something to look forward to in round two.
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