IT was a brutal end to Racing 92’s Top 14 title hopes — and four Fijian stars found themselves caught in the storm as Toulouse tore the Paris club apart in a record 71-17 semifinal thrashing over the weekend.
Starting at inside centre, Josua Tuisova was one of the few Racing players able to make an impact with ball in hand, carrying strongly and trying to break through Toulouse’s defensive wall.
His trademark power was evident, but with Racing spending long periods without possession, his influence was limited.
His yellow card in the first half also proved costly.
Nathan Hughes, making his return from injury at number eight, had a tough assignment against a dominant Toulouse pack.
The big forward tried to bring some stability in the early exchanges with his physical carries and work around the breakdown, but as the match opened up, Racing’s forwards were completely overwhelmed.
Coming off the bench, Lekima Tagitagivalu entered at a time when Racing was already under pressure.
The loose forward worked hard defensively and made some important tackles but struggled to slow down the Toulouse attack or create momentum for his side.
Out wide, Selestino Ravutaumada had very little opportunity to stamp his mark after being introduced in the second half.
Known for his explosive speed and sharp footwork, the Flying Fijians winger barely saw enough quality possession to threaten.
For Fiji, however, there may still be a silver lining.
With Racing’s season now over, Tuisova, Ravutaumada and Tagitagivalu could become available earlier for the as preparations continue for the upcoming Rugby Nations Championships.
