This is a third performance in a row in its Paris La Défense Arena venue.
After two difficult successes against La Rochelle and Lyon, Racing 92 has no room for error against Castres this Friday evening (8:45 p.m., Canal + Décalé) if it wants to stay in contact with the first two qualified directly for the semi-finals, Toulouse and La Rochelle.
Paris La Défense, refuge or haunted house?
This season, the synthetic turf of its Paris La Défense Arena hall is giving Racing a cold sweat.
The Ciel et Blancs have indeed suffered until the end in their last two outings to overcome La Rochelle (26-22) and Lyon (34-26), and before that, they had two losses at home ahead of Toulon (29-23) then Bordeaux-Bègles (33-32).
Still deprived of its internationals, including the Scottish opener Finn Russell, the Ile-de-France club will this time try to avoid any unnecessary suspense against a 9th team in the standings.
"We have to play full games," underlines the third row wing Baptiste Chouzenoux.
It is true that we cannot kill the encounters, yet we start them well ... "
Boffelli and Claassen on the lawn
On the bench last week to face Lyon, Argentinian Emiliano Boffelli will start this Friday evening.
The 26-year-old Puma (31 caps) will be lined up on a wing in place of Louis Dupichot.
Donovan Taofifenua will occupy the other wing and the Irishman Simon Zebo the rear position.
The other change, in the three-quarter line, concerns the tenure of scrum half Teddy Iribaren in place of Maxime Machenaud.
In front, the third center line Antonie Claassen will make his return after three months of absence due to physical problems.
“We have a very, very young group,” he says.
We may have missed a bit of experience at the end of some games.
I hope that I will be able to bring a little coolness. "
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A rhythm to keep
The Parisians (3rd, 54 pts), who remain on three successes in a row, are fighting for the leading throne with La Rochelle (2nd, 54 pts) and Toulouse (1st, 57 pts).
Racing is aiming for one of the first two directly qualifying places for the semi-finals.
This Saturday, La Rochelle receives the Stade Français (2:45 p.m.) and Toulouse moves to Lyon (9:05 p.m.).
“The objective is to continue to be at the top of the table, insists manager Laurent Travers.
We are looking at what remains to be improved, so that we are better over 80 minutes rather than 25 or 30 minutes.
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