HEINEKEN CUP POOL TWO:Racing Metro 92 v Saracens. Kick-off 8pm (Irish time) tonight
THIS IS a must see for Leinster folk. There are four essential points to be had when Saracens come to Dublin in January, while the away trip to Racing in round six may define Joe Schmidt’s first season in charge.
Leinster may have swept past Sebastien Chabal and pals in the opening, bonus-point victory in October, but the cash-rich Parisians were unaware of the need to perform on foreign soil and did the usual, shoulder-shrugging French reaction to things not going to plan.
They have since learned some valuable lessons.
Saracens? We await Brendan Venter’s next utterance with bated breath. This evening marks the end of the line for the colourful coach, and part-time doctor, before he returns to his native South Africa in January.
The London club are keeping him on the payroll as some sort of technical adviser in a move that is hardly a ringing endorsement of Ulsterman Mark McCall as he takes up the director of rugby position that Venter is relinquishing due to “family reasons”.
No sign of the Gavin Henson bandwagon rolling onto the Sarries 23-man squad just yet as the former Welsh centre attempts to regain match fitness after a spell prancing around ballrooms.
The chances of Venter leaving, or Henson arriving, on a positive note seem unlikely as Racing look to build on the impressive achievement of becoming the first French club to beat Saracens on English soil last week.
Victory will put them top of Pool Two, at least until Leinster and Clermont collide tomorrow evening down Lansdowne Road.
Michael Tagicakibau, younger brother of London Irish flyer Sailosi, comes into the Saracens midfield while Hayden Smith, Hugh Vyvyan, Kelly Brown and Justin Melck come back into the pack.
The Puma and Springbok playmakers in the French backline should give them an edge. Juan Hernandez is back at fullback and Francois Steyn’s thunderous boot and massive frame will be utilised from inside centre.
All this awaits Leinster in this devilishly difficult pool. They also have momentum and that should tell.
In Pool Four, Biarritz Olympique take on Aironi at Parc des Sports Aguilera, tonight (6pm).
Aironi’s historic and massively surprising victory last week gave Ulster a much-needed fillip, but it seems safe to bet the house on Biarritz taking their revenge and a winning bonus point as well.
RACING METRO 92:J Hernandez; S Bobo, H Chavancy, F Steyn, M Bergamasco; J Wisniewski, N Durand; J Brugnaut, B Noirot, J Orlandi; S Dellape, J Nailiko; J Leo'o, J Cronje, S Chabal (capt). Replacements: C Festuccia, A Lo Cicero, B Sa, K Ghezal, J Fillol, D Scarbrough, R Vaquiin, B Le Roux.
SARACENS:C Wyles; D Strettle, M Tagicakibau, B Barritt, J Short; O Farrell, N de Kock; R Gill, S Brits, P Du Plessis; H Smith, H Vyvyan (capt); J Melck, J Burger, K Brown. Replacements: J George, D Carstens, C Nieto, G Kruis, E Joubert, R Wigglesworth, N Mordt, N Cato.
Referee:George Clancy (Ireland)
BIARRITZ:D Haylett-Petty; T Ngwenya, M Bosch, D Traille, I Balshaw; J Peyrelongue, D Yachvili; Y Watremez, B August, C Johnstone, J Thion, E Lund, M Lund, S Vahafolau, I Harinordoquy (capt). Replacements: R Terrain, E Guinazu, S Marconnet, P Taele, W Lauret, I Bolakoro, L Tranier, A Mignardi.
AIRONI RUGBY:J Laharrague; G Toniolatti, M Pratichetti, G Pizarro, G Rubini; R Bocchino, P Canavosio; S Perugini, L Ferraro, F Staibano, M Bortolami, Q Geldenhuys (capt), V Liebenberg, S Favaro, J Erasmus. Replacements: R Santamaria, L Gamboa, M Aguero, J Sole, G Krause, M Wilson, J Marshall, G Venditti.
Referee:Andrew Small (England)
Verdict:Biarritz to win.
Venue:Stade Olympique Yves du Manoir Kick-Off: 8pm (Irish) tonight On TV: Sky Sports 3
