Daniel Carter and Mike Phillips have a combined pensionable age but neither player whose international swansong came in this year’s World Cup is ready to call it a day just yet. The veterans disabused the notion professional rugby has become the preserve of the young in a surprisingly comfortable victory for Racing, even if they are at the stage of their careers when their speed is measured in terms of thought rather than leg movement.
Carter, making his debut for the Paris club, was named man of the match by the TV broadcasters, presumably so they could secure a post-match interview with the New Zealand fly-half. He played within himself, hardly surprising given his previous appearance had been in the World Cup final six weeks before, steady in his induction period with the spectacular to come.
Phillips played as if he had something to prove at the end of the week when the Wales scrum-half announced his retirement from international rugby. It was his first start since his final cap in August and he savoured every moment, uninhibited to the point of indulging in outrageous offloading as a defence that had leaked one try in the last three Premiership rounds was sprung regularly.
Asked what it was like to partner Carter, for so long the destroyer of Wales, Phillips replied: “It was probably a bigger experience for him! He has been superb all week, a world-class player who is only going to get better each training session and every game. His presence here is great for the club and the squad. He is a quick learner and looked as if he had been here for a long time, but he knows it is all about the team.”
Racing were 14 points up in 19 minutes with two tries Carter converted before Northampton staged a rally of sorts. They looked like pulling back to 14-10 just before the break before Victor Matfield, another battle-hardened warrior making his first start for his new club, wasted a two-man overlap by telegraphing a pass that was intercepted by Brice Dulin who ran 80 metres to score. Luther Burrell was denied a try on the stroke of half-time when, according to the Saints’ director of rugby, Jim Mallinder, the French broadcaster failed to show the most relevant camera angles to the referee.
“It was an important win for us and we took our chances clinically but there are things we have to work on ahead of Friday night’s return in Northampton,” said Phillips. “We were not composed enough at times and we know how tough it will be at their place. We are not getting carried away. I was just glad to be playing again and now I only have one thing to focus on and I hope to win some silverware here.”
It was Northampton’s second heavy loss to Racing in 2015 after the 32-8 reverse at Franklin’s Gardens in January. They hope to have Dylan Hartley and Tom Wood fit for selection this week, but they will need to impose themselves physically.
They had a slight advantage in the scrum but they were knocked back throughout in contact, and not just by the 22-stone prop Benjamin Tameifuna who showed a surprisingly light touch for such a bulky figure. Had Carter provided the assist out of the back of his left hand for Dulin’s second try the touch could not have been defter.
“We have to pick ourselves up,” said the Northampton captain, Lee Dickson. “I do not think the scoreline accurately reflected the difference between the sides and we were on the wrong end of some of the decisions. We played very well in patches but let ourselves down in ball security. You cannot give 20 turnovers to a side of Racing’s quality and we have to regroup ahead of Friday. People will write us off but we believe in ourselves.”
Northampton have developed a habit of rebounding in the back-to-back rounds of Europe, winning in Leinster and Ulster in recent years after going down at home, but Carter will be one game wiser, if he makes the return having started the match with his right knee heavily strapped.
“It’s the money he is on, I think,” said Phillips, giving his explanation of the bandaging. “He’s weighing down on one side! He’s been around, hasn’t he? He’s getting on.” If Northampton are to get on and get out of the group they will need to get more than Carter.
Racing: Dulin; Rokocoko, Laulala (Dumoulin, 63), Chavancy, Imhoff; Carter (Goosen, 63), Phillips; Ben Arous (Brugnaut, 53), Szarzewski (capt; Chat, 59), Tamefuna (Gomes Sa, 59), Charteris, Van dear Merwe (Carizza, 63), Wenceslas, Nyanga, Masoe (Claassen, 67).
Tries: Chavancy, Ben Arous, Dulin 2, Imhoff. Cons: Carter 3, Goosen.
Northampton: Foden; Elliott, Burrell, Stephenson, North; Hanrahan (Myler, 58), Dickson (capt; Fotuali’i, 58); A Waller (E Waller 48), Haywood (Williams, 59), Brookes (Hill, 58), Paterson, Matfield (Day, 58), Lawes, Harrison, Dickinson (Gibson, 53).
Pen: Hanrahan.
Referee: G Clancy (Ireland) Attendance: 8,733
