Having just entered a new era, by announcing the recruitment of English star Owen Farrell last Monday, Racing 92 will very quickly have to refocus on the field.
This Sunday, the Ile-de-France club, leader of the Top 14, hosts Stade Toulousain, currently fourth in the standings, in the clash of the 13th day.
Facing the reigning French champion, the confrontation promises to be tasty.
The two clubs remain three weeks without playing in the league, after a long period dedicated to the Champions Cup.
On the European scene, the Racingmen have long been in difficulty: after three losses, they only qualified for the round of 16 at the end of their last match, won against Cardiff (48-26), last Saturday.
Quite the opposite for Toulouse, first in Group B after four successes in four matches.
Curiosity of the format, the Stadium was not varnished in the draw for the eighth, since it will face… Racing, in a match which will have much more weight than a regular season Top 14 meeting. The confrontation on Sunday will therefore above all allow us to gauge the current gap between the two teams.
Even if we will have to take these lessons with a pinch of salt, since five Ile-de-France residents and nine Toulouse residents, all executives, were requisitioned by the XV of France, with a view to preparing the Six Nations Tournament.
Racing 92 – Stade Toulousain will kick off this Sunday, January 28 at 9:5 p.m.
The meeting will be broadcast in full on Canal +.