Preview: European Cup, Round Four
English teams have been imperious in the European Champions Cup so far this season, winning 14 and losing just three of their matches so far.
But one of those defeats was the chastening 33-3 thumping Racing handed out to Northampton in the Parisian suburbs last weekend.
And the English side's Wales wing George North says that defeat is motivating the 2014 Premiership champions ahead of the return Pool Three fixture.
"The boys want to rectify what happened last weekend. The standard that the French teams have is tough to step up to, but we've been looking forward to the return fixture," he told SaintsTV.
"Racing 92 are a big team full of stars – they have so much quality (that) they have two or three sides to pick from. It is one of those where we need to deal with it and adapt."
One of those stars, New Zealand legend Dan Carter, had an impressive debut for Racing last weekend as they dominated Saints, who have been out of sorts all season, even in their domestic league where they have won only three of their first six matches.
Racing for their part have been largely bucking the trend of disappointing results for the French in this year's tournaments – their two from two in contrast to just six wins from 15 matches overall for the Top 14 representatives.
Record four-time champions Toulouse are one of those to have suffered the most with just one win from three as they were humiliated 38-0 at Ulster a week ago.
The French giants will have to do without influential No.8 Louis Picamoles for the visit of the Irish province on Sunday in a match they must win to maintain any hope of reaching the knock-out stages.
Saracens are in control of Pool One having won all three matches so far and host debutants Oyonnax on Saturday.
They romped to a 45-10 win in France last weekend but head coach Mark McCall believes they can do much better at Allianz Park.
"The performance in France was a mixed one in truth," he said.
"When we were good, we were very good, although we had a 25-minute period in the beginning of the match where we did not really leave our own half because of our own ill-discipline, but when we got in their half we were very clinical and scored some nice tries."
A home win would appear a near certainty with even Oyonnax head coach Olivier Azam admitting his side have limited ambitions.
"We will look to show some improvement in the rematch," he said of a side that has lost two from two.
Reigning champions Toulon travel to Leinster on Saturday with the Irish province, three-time former winners like their hosts, already as good as eliminated after three straight defeats.
But Toulon's Irish lock Paul O'Connell, who is injured and will miss the match, believes Leinster will nonetheless be fired up.
"There will probably be 50,000 (fans) at the game: a full house," he said.
"It will be the biggest game of Leinster's season even though there's a slim chance of them qualifying now."
Toulon need to take something from the game to keep pace with English sides Bath and Wasps, who meet in the other Pool Five clash.
A last gasp George Ford conversion of Anthony Watson's try gave Bath a 25-23 win at Wasps last weekend.
Bath maintained a perfect record but Wasps are top of the group by two points having played a game more.
Last year's runners-up Clermont are another side looking to bounce back as they host Exeter on Sunday.
The French giants already trail their opponents and Ospreys, who travel to Bordeaux-Begles the day before, by five points in Pool Two after losing 31-14 in England last week.
All the weekend's match details:
Friday, December 18
Northampton Saints v Racing Metro
(Franklin's Gardens – Kick-off: 19.45; 19.45 GMT)
Teams:
Northampton Saints: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Ah See Tuala, 13 George Pisi, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 George North, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Sam Dickinson, 7 Teimana Harrison, 6 Jamie Gibson, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Mikey Haywood, 1 Alex Waller.
Replacements: 16 Matti Williams, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Christian Day, 20 Michael Paterson, 21 Kahn Fotuali'i, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Jamie Elliott.
Racing Metro: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Henry Chavancy, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Chris Masoe, 7 Yannick Nyanga, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 5 Francois van der Merwe, 4 Luke Charteris, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Eddy Ben Arous.
Replacements: 16 Camille Chat, 17 Julien Brugnaut, 18 Cedate Gomes Sa, 19 Manuel Carizza, 20 Antonie Claassen, 21 Maxime Machenaud, 22 Johan Goosen, 23 Marc Andreu.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Gwyn Morris (Wales), Wayne Davies (Wales)
TMO: Derek Bevan (Wales)
Saturday, December 19
Saracens v Oyonnax
(Allianz Park – Kick-off: 13.00; 13.00 GMT)
Teams:
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Duncan Taylor, 12 Brad Barritt (captain), 11 Mike Ellery, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Neil De Kock, 8 Samuela Vunisa, 7 Kelly Brown, 6 Jackson Wray, 5 Maro Itoje, 4 Jim Hamilton, 3 Petrus Du Plessis, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Mako Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Juan Figallo, 19 Michael Rhodes, 20 Will Fraser, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Charlie Hodgson, 23 Ben Ransom.
Oyonnax: 15 Florian Denos, 14 Daniel Ikpefan, 13 Guillaume Bousses, 12 Uwa Tawalo, 11 Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10 Regis Lespinas, 9 Julien Blanc, 8 Florian Faure, 7 Pedrie Wannenburg, 6 Valentin Ursache, 5 Geoffrey Fabbri, 4 Leon Power, 3 Marc Clerc, 2 Jeremie Maurouard, 1 Laurent Delboulbès.
Replacements: 16 Jody Jenneker, 17 Stan Wright, 18 Horace Pungea, 19 Viliami Maafu, 20 Thomas Bordes, 21 Arthur Aziza, 22 Rory Clegg, 23 Vincent Martin.
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland), Jonathan Peak (Ireland)
TMO: Marshall Kilgore (Ireland)
Bath v Wasps
(Recreation Ground – Kick-off: 15.15; 15.15 GMT)
Teams:
Bath: 15 Anthony Watson, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 George Ford, 9 Niko Matawalu, 8 David Denton, 7 Francois Louw (captain), 6 Leroy Houston, 5 Dave Attwood, 4 Matt Garvey, 3 David Wilson, 2 Ross Batty, 1 Nick Auterac.
Replacements: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Max Lahiff, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Charlie Ewels, 20 Guy Mercer, 21 Chris Cook, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Tom Homer.
Wasps: 15 Rob Miller, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Ben Jacobs, 11 Charles Piutau, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 George Smith, 6 James Haskell (captain), 5 Bradley Davies, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Ashley Johnson, 1 Matt Mullan.
Replacements: 16 Edd Shervington, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Phil Swainston, 19 James Gaskell, 20 Sam Jones, 21 Dan Robson, 22 Ruaridh Jackson, 23 Alapati Leiua.
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Cyril Lafon (France,)Stéphane Boyer (France)
TMO: Eric Gonthier (France)
Stade Francais v Treviso
(Stade Jean Bouin – Kick-off: 16.15; 15.15 GMT)
Teams:
Stade Francais: 15 Hugo Bonneval, 14 Josaia Raisuqe, 13 Geoffrey Doumayrou, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Djibril Camara, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Julien Tomas, 8 Sergio Parisse 7 Sylvain Nicolas, 6 Raphael Lakafia, 5 Paul Gabrillagues, 4 Hugh Pyle, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Laurent Sempéré, 1 Emmanuel Felsina.
Replacements: 16 Laurent Panis, 17 Zurabi Zhvania, 18 Paul Alo Emile, 19 Gerhard Mostert, 20 Jonathan Ross, 21 Clement Daguin, 22 Herman Meyer Bosman, 23 Waisea Vuidarvuwalu.
Treviso: 15 Simone Ragusi, 14 Andrea Pratichetti, 13 Enrico Bacchin, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Tommaso Iannone, 10 Jayden Hayward, 9 Christopher Smylie, 8 Abraham Jurgens Steyn 7 Alessandro Zanni, 6 Marco Barbini, 5 Tom Palmer, 4 Marco Lazzaroni, 3 Salesi Manu, 2 Roberto Santamaria, 1 Alberto de Marchi.
Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Matteo Zanusso, 18 Rupert Harden, 19 Filo Paulo, 20 Marco Fuser, 21 Robert Barbieri, 22 Samuel Christie, 23 James Ambrosini.
Referee: Greg Garner (England)
Assistant referees: Dean Richards (England), Kevin Stewart (England)
TMO: David Sainsbury (England)
Leinster v Toulon
(Aviva Stadium – Kick-off: 17.15; 17.15 GMT)
Teams:
Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Dave Kearney, 13 Ben Te'o, 12 Luke Fitzgerald, 11 Isa Nacewa (captain), 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Rhys Ruddock, 5 Mike McCarthy, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Jack McGrath.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Marty Moore, 19 Tom Denton, 20 Jordi Murphy, 21 Nick McCarthy, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Zane Kirchner.
Toulon: 15 Delon Armitage, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Eric Escande, 8 Duane Vermeulen 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Juan Smith, 5 Romain Taofifenua, 4 Jocelino Suta, 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 1 Florian Fresia.
Replacements: 16 Anthony Etrillard, 17 Xavier Chiocci, 18 Levan Chilachava, 19 Mamuka Gorgodze, 20 Juan Fernandez Lobbe, 21 Tom Taylor, 22 Sebastien Tillous-Borde, 23 Konstantine Mikautadze.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Tim Wigglesworth (England), Paul Dix (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
Bordeaux-Begles v Ospreys
(Stade Chaban-Delmas – Kick-off: 18.15; 17.15 GMT)
Teams:
Bordeaux Begles: 15 Jean-Marcellin Buttin, 14 Metuisela Talebulamaijaina, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Julien Rey, 11 Sofiane Guitoune, 10 Pierre Bernard, 9 Heini Adams, 8 Marco Tauleigne, 7 Matthew Clarkin, 6 Louis Madaule, 5 Berend Botha, 4 Julien Le Devedec, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Clement Maynadier, 1 Jefferson Poirot.
Replacements: 16 Ole Avei, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 19 Jan Andre Marais, 20 Loann Goujon, 21 Yann Lesgourgues, 22 Baptiste Serin, 23 Darly Domvo.
Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Jeff Hassler, 13 Ben John, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Eli Walker, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Tom Habberfield, 8 James King, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (captain), 4 Lloyd Ashley, 3 Dmitri Arhip, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Rory Thornton, 20 Dan Baker, 21 Martin Roberts, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Hanno Dirksen.
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England), Peter Allan (England)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)
Scarlets v Glasgow Warriors
(Parc y Scarlets – Kick-off: 19.45; 19.45 GMT)
Teams:
Scarlets: 15 Michael Collins, 14 Steffan Evans, 13 Gareth Owen, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Aled Thomas, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Morgan Allen, 7 Jack Condy, 6 Lewis Rawlins, 5 Maselino Paulino, 4 Jake Ball, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Emyr Phillips (captain), 1 Rob Evans.
Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 George Earle, 20 Tom Price, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Steve Shingler, 23 Harry Robinson.
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Tommy Seymour, 14 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Alex Dunbar, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Mike Blair, 8 Josh Strauss, 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Rob Harley, 5 Jonny Gray (captain), 4 Leone Nakarawa, 3 Sila Puafisi, 2 Fraser Brown, 1 Alex Allan.
Replacements: 16 Shalva Mamukashvili, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Ryan Wilson, 21 Grayson Hart, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Lee Jones.
Referee: Pascal Gauzère (France)
Assistant referees: Maxime Chalon (France), Jean-Luc Rebollal (France)
TMO: Bruno Bessot (France)
Sunday, December 20
Toulouse v Ulster
(Stade Ernest Wallon – Kick-off: 14.00; 13.00 GMT)
Teams:
Toulouse: 15 Alexis Palisson, 14 Kunatani Kunabuli, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Florian Fritz, 11 Timoci Matanavou, 10 Jean-Marc Doussain, 9 Sébastien Bézy, 8 Imanol Harinordoquy, 7 Thierry Dusautoir, 6 Yacouba Camara, 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Gregory Lamboley, 3 Census Johnston, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Cyril Baille.
Replacements: 16 Christopher Tolofua, 17 Gurthro Steenkamp, 18 Gert Muller, 19 Joe Tekori, 20 Louis Picamoles , 21 Gillian Galan, 22 David Mele, 23 Clément Poitrenaud.
Ulster: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Luke Marshall, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Craig Gilroy, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Sean Reidy, 6 Robbie Diack, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Alan O'Connor, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Rory Best (captain), 1 Kyle McCall.
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Andrew Warwick, 18 Ricky Lutton, 19 Louis Stevenson, 20 Nick Williams, 21 Paul Marshall, 22 Ian Humphreys, 23 Rory Scholes.
Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Assistant referees: Darren Gamage (England), Paul Burton (England)
TMO: David Grashoff (England)
Clermont Auvergne v Exeter Chiefs
(Stade Marcel-Michelin – Kick-off: 16.15; 15.15 GMT)
Teams:
Clermont Auvergne: 15 Scott Spedding, 14 David Strettle, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Hosea Gear, 11 Noa Nakaitaci, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Alexandre Lapandry, 6 Vito Kolelishvili, 5 Sébastian Vahaamahina, 4 Jamie Cudmore, 3 Daniel Kotze, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 1 Thomas Domingo.
Replacements: 16 John Ulugia, 17 Thomas Domingo, 18 Clément Ric, 19 Paul Jedrasiak, 20 Damien Chouly, 21 Ludovic Radoslavjevic, 22 Pato Fernandez, 23 Albert Vulivuli.
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Matt Jess, 13 Jack Nowell, 12 Ian Whitten, 11 James Short, 10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Dave Lewis, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Don Armand, 5 Damian Welch, 4 Geoff Parling, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Jack Yeandle (captain), 1 Carl Rimmer.
Replacements: 16 Elvis Taione, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Moray Low, 19 Mitch Lees, 20 Tom Johnson, 21 Haydn Thomas, 22 Will Hooley, 23 Michele Campanaro.
Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Assistant referees: Stefano Pennè (Italy), Simone Boaretto (Italy)
TBC: Carlo Damasco (Italy)
Leicester Tigers v Munster
(Welford Road – Kick-off: 17.15; 17.15 GMT)
Teams:
Leicester Tigers: 15 Telusa Veainu, 14 Adam Thompstone, 13 Peter Betham, 12 Matt Smith, 11 Vereniki Goneva, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Lachlan McCaffrey, 7 Brendon O'Connor, 6 Ed Slater (captain), 5 Graham Kitchener, 4 Mike Fitzgerald, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Tom Youngs, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Matias Aguero, 18 Fraser Balmain, 19 Dom Barrow, 20 Tom Croft, 21 Sam Harrison, 22 Tommy Bell, 23 Seremaia Bai.
Munster: 15 Andrew Conway, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Francis Saili, 12 Denis Hurley, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Conor Murray, 8 CJ Stander (captain), 7 Dave O'Callaghan, 6 Robin Copeland, 5 Donnacha Ryan, 4 Mark Chisholm, 3 John Ryan, 2 Mike Sherry, 1 James Cronin.
Replacements: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Mario Sagario, 19 Dave Foley, 20 Jack O'Donoghue, 21 Tomas O'Leary, 22 Rory Scannell, 23 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant referees: Thomas Charabas (France), Salem Attalah (France)
TMO: Jean-Marie Piraveau (France)
