HARLEQUINS FRENCH LEAVE: Racing Metro 40 - Harlequins 28

Very warm and sunny in Geneva on arrival after the early light rain in UK. Met a few Quins fans at the airport including one lady who apparently was responsible for single handedly selling thousands of tickets to Munster fans last season!! Surprising number of Quins fans at the stadium pity we could not have sat together and made a bit more noise. 

Looked pretty ominous in the first minutes with Dumas going over for a try inside 3 minutes with an easy conversion by Sexton. Quins got their offloading game going, awarded a penalty in Racing 22, Quins elected to scrum got ball away and Ugo lost control of the ball over the line. 5m scrum to Racing which was won by Quins and there followed a series of scrums with Racing eventually getting the ball away. 

A period of sustained pressure by Quins with a series of penalties against Racing (think the ref had lost his yellow card) rewarded by an 
Ugo try converted by Nev, 7 points all after 30 minutes. 
Ugo really looking good and was tackled 5m short of the line and spilled the balll. 

Racing second 15 started their warm up routine, looks like a complete change is planned for the second half! 

JTH off with what looked like a cut eye Mike Brown on. 

Lineout to Racing inside Quins 22, catch and drive made to look very easy, try to Lydiate and converted by Sexton on 34 minutes. Racing reduced to 14 men shortly after following a very late and dangerous tackle on George Lowe I think.

Quins scored their second try shortly before half time with George Lowe scoring from a delicate kick through by Nev, brilliant.

Nick Easter off just before half time replaced by a very slim and fit looking More.

Half time 14 points each. 

Quins had looked very sharp with lots of offloading in the first half against a very big physical side. 

Easter and JTH both back on for second half, lost count of the Racing replacements as many were wearing shirt numbers 1 to 15. 

Another catch and drive score by Racing after 42 mins, conversion missed by Sexton. Quins scored next following a quick penalty and darting run by Dickson (had a good game) with who else but Ugo finally touching down, conversion by Nev after 45 minutes. 

Noticed that Buchanan and Sinkler (I think) were on, Sam Smith injured and Mike Brown back on but to be honest couldn't keep up with some of the changes from here on. JTH off again, Robson off, Sam Stuart on with me trying to take photos as well!! 

Racing new pack started to take control up front with lots of pressure on Quins line awarded by another converted try. Noticed Mike Brown coming off again.

Great try saving tackle by Ugo (back to his best chasing all the restarts) but Quins under loads of pressure resulting in another converted try after 73 minutes.

Racing's final score was from a superb chip through and chase, score 40 - 21.

Quins stuck to their task and were rewarded by an individual try by George Lowe in the dying minutes, converted by Ben Botica, final score 40 - 28. 

Overall impression; 
A good work out for the ream against a very big and strong Racing outfit who won't have a squad of 30 in the HC. 
JTH and GL back to their best. 
Ben Botica is not a fullback. 
Nev, Ugo, Robshaw, Wallace, well just about everybody, looked sharp and ready for the new season 
Robshaw, Wallace, Easter looks a good combination. 
Great experience for the youngsters as well. 

Glad I made the trip, heading home Sunday after a bit of sightseeing