Anything but a Racing Certainty

Much as with Clermont Auvergne, contests with Racing Metro have shown Saracens' progress since their 2010 return to top flight European rugby. They have met the Top 14 side on four occasions. But Racing are a side very much on a steep upward curve, advancing from the French second tier as recently as 2009, notably just one season after Racing Club Toulonnais were promoted, and the Paris side are second only to them in terms of ambition. Perhaps with the signing of Dan Carter as a replacement for Sexton on a three year deal, they have even outshone the side from the South of France.

 

Although vastly different clubs, there are still some notable similarities between Metro and Saracens, most notably, the ambition to progress from a modest-sized club to one with a high profile, the stated aims to develop young players alongside impressive acquisitions and an ultimate goal of becoming self-sufficient. Saracens are further down the road on most of these aspects, giving the number of academy graduates in the first team, having of course secured Allianz Park, and progressed further each year in European competition, whilst Sunday's opponents will only move into their new 32,000 capacity ground in 2016, and never featured in the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup. In their first top flight campaign since the 2001 merger with fellow Parisian side US Metro, they finished sixth, making their Heineken Cup bow in 2010/2011, alongside Saracens in Pool 2.

 

That campaign was something of a baptism of fire, as they travelled to Dublin and lost 38-22 at the RDS to Leinster, the eventual winners, but their maiden victory in the competition came at Stade Yves-du-Manoir, as fellow Top 14 side ASM Clermont Auvergne were undone 16-9. Saracens had an equally challenging campaign, losing their first two matches at Clermont Auvergne, 25-10, and against Leinster at Wembley, 25-23. The sides then met at Vicarage Road, where Metro took the honours, but Saracens had established an early 8-0 lead through an unconverted Noah Cato try and Owen Farrell penalty. However, three penalties for the visitors as well as a Juan Martin Hernandez try made it 13-8 to the visitors at the break. Two Farrell penalties narrowed the gap to two points, but Racing collected a drop goal and a fine try from Fijian Sereli Bobo to make it 24-14, although a converted Brad Barritt try at least gave the hosts a losing bonus point. Sarries recorded their first pool win at the fourth attempt by winning 19-14 at Sunday's venue, surging to a 16-0 interval lead thanks to a converted Barritt try, as well as two penalties and a drop goal by Farrell, but a strong second half from the home side earnt them a losing bonus point. Both sides were destined to miss out on the Quarter Finals, as Racing lost at Clermont, and Saracens were humbled at Leinster, 43-20, in one of Gavin Henson's games for the club. Modest campaigns for both clubs were completed by home defeats against Clermont for Saracens, and Leinster for Racing.

 

In 2011, Racing started on the wrong foot again, losing at home to Cardiff Blues, a result which seems barely credible now given the changes in the respective fortunes of the sides. The following game was an unforgettable classic, and probably one of the best Heineken Cup games ever, as they were undone 48-47 at Edinburgh, who progressed all the way to the Semi-Finals that year. With two defeats in the opening two matches ruling sides out of contention, until Bath managed to come back from it this season. The sense of progression, but also regression of their opponents to an extent, is underlined when you consider that the third pool match was a 34-14 home loss to London Irish. However, they won the return leg at Reading 25-19, only to lose out again to Edinburgh in a slightly less dramatic 24-27 home reverse. A miserable campaign saw Cardiff complete the double over them. In contrast, Saracens eased into a home Quarter Final against Clermont Auvergne, by winning home and away pool matches against Benetton Treviso and Ospreys, beating Biarritz at home and claiming a losing bonus point at the Basque side. The French side would however win 22-3 at Watford, and be far too powerful for the hosts. It was something of a different story next time, though.

 

Despite poor results in Europe, Racing Metro's consistent league form meant they were back in the Heineken Cup for 2012/2013 and shared Pool 1 with Saracens, in their transition season to Allianz Park, Munster and Edinburgh. The Scottish side were a shadow of the exciting outfit of the previous campaign, and lost their first match at home to Sarries, 45-0. Racing, though, won their first match, as a late comeback, in a match relocated to Stade de France, saw them beat Munster 22-17, whilst, when Saracens hosted the Paris side, they moved the fixture slightly further...to King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels. Tries from Chris Wyles, Steve Borthwick and Will Fraser earnt a comfortable 30-13 win, though. Back at their usual home, Racing defeated Edinburgh 19-9, whilst Sarries were being edged out 15-9 at Munster; the return legs seeing Racing complete the double victory whilst Saracens gained revenge against the Irish province. The relocation theme continued as Racing Metro moved the home clash with Sarries to Nantes, where the "hosts" led 25-18 at the break but were knocked out of contention by ten Farrell penalties, allied to a converted Wyles try, which brought a final score of 37-28 to Saracens. In the final pool match, Sarries signed off from Vicarage Road with a thumping 40-7 win against Edinburgh to earn a Quarter Final against Ulster and then a semi-final against Toulon, whilst Metro were well-beaten at Munster, who also qualified for the knock-outs.

 

In their fourth, and final Heineken Cup campaign, Racing came out on top at home to ASM Clermont Auvergne, but then missed late chances to win in West Wales as they were held to a 26-all draw at Scarlets. Their hopes were severely damaged by a home loss to Harlequins, as the South West London side won 32-8 in Nantes, and a flat performance by the visitors in South West London saw Quins win the return too, 17-3. The European season petered out with a home loss to Scarlets and a loss at Clermont. Much as with Saracens in 2011/2012, this campaign has been the one in which Racing Metro have progressed from sustained league performances to making a real impact in Europe, to the extent that they completed the Pool stage unbeaten, although this has not been a good omen in the past, as sides who have done this have never lifted the Trophy. A much improved showing opened with a 20-11 home win over Northampton ahead of a 26-10 win at Benetton Treviso, whilst a 19 all draw was secured at Ospreys in the third game. The 18-14 win in the return kept the contest with the Saints alive at the top of Pool 5, and after a 53-17 win over Treviso in Paris in the penultimate game, the closing pool match at Franklins Gardens became a straight shoot-out for top spot and the home Quarter Final. In one of the most powerful displays of the season, the hosts were outclassed, as the visitors set up this home tie with a 32-8 bonus point win with two tries from winger Juan Imhoff, and other scores from Benjamin Lapeyre and Jamie Roberts. Racing had truly arrived, and showed that they could not only handle big game pressure, but thrive on it. That's something Saracens have been able to do consistently.

With confirmed line-ups yet to be announced, it's hard to see Racing deviating much from the side who won so comfortably at Northampton. That featured French full back Benjamin Lapeyre, with Argentinian winger Imhoff on the right and French international Teddy Thomas on the left. Welsh centre Jamie Roberts, who had a strong Six Nations, partnered France "A" player Henry Chavancy. In the game with Saints, Benjamin Dambielle, who is mainly a full back, was at fly half, but Jonny Sexton would be expected to replace him alongside French international scrum half Maxime Machenaud, although Welsh international Mike Phillips is an excellent option to have as back up. Into the forwards, and Eddy Ben Arous was at loosehead, with the French international accompanied in the front row by fellow Frenchmen Dimitri Szarzewski, who captained the side from hooker. and tighthead Luc Ducalcon. Charteris, who had an outstanding game for Wales against Ireland last month, was alongside South African Francois van der Merwe at lock. The back row consisted of Wenceslas Lauret, a French international, South African Bernard Le Roux and French qualified number 8 Antonie Claassen.

 

Saracens will probably opt for continuity from the Quins game against one of the toughest back lines they will face all season. Alex Goode should continue at full back, and, given comments by Mark McCall during the week about Chris Ashton and David Strettle deserving renewed England recognition, you'd expect them to continue on the wings. Chris Wyles two try display should see him start again at centre alongside Marcelo Bosch. Charlie Hodgson's expertise will be vital at fly half, whilst Neil de Kock may be rotated for Richard Wigglesworth alongside him. Into the forwards, and Mako Vunipola should be at loosehead alongside hooker Jamie George and tighthead Petrus du Plessis. George Kruis looks likely to be at lock, but with Alistair Hargreaves departing the action at Wembley for a head injury assessment, which then became a permanent substitution, Jim Hamilton may come in. A shuffle of the back row could see Kelly Brown start alongside Jacques Burger and Jackson Wray.