Racing 92 host the Stormers in the European Champions Cup in Nanterre, Paris on Saturday and in terms of reaching the play offs this match has the look of a virtual eliminator
Racing 92 v Stormers, Saturday 18th January, Nanterre, Paris, KO 22:00 (South African time)
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (Eng)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (Eng), John Meredith (Eng)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (Eng)
Weather Forecast - Paris
Racing 92:
Racing 92 are bottom of Pool 4 with 1 win and 2 defeats for 4 log points. However with Harlequins (3rd), Sales Sharks (4th) and the Stormers (5th) on 5 points they remain very much in the mix for a place in the play offs although it will also depend on other results in this pool as well as the outcome of this game. Read more on qualification permutations here.
Racing started with a 23-12 home win over Harlequins but back to back away fixtures saw them go down at Sale Sharks (29-7) and most recently Glasgow Warriors (29-19).
Racing are currently ninth in the Top 14 standings with a record of 5 wins 1 draw and 8 defeats.
Stormers:
The Stormers put themselves back in the play off hunt with a 40-0 demolition of Sale Sharks in Cape Town last weekend, running in 6 tries in total. That was the first log points of the tournament for the Stormers, prior to that they lost 24-14 against RC Toulon in a match staged in Port Elizabeth and then an understrength side were soundly beaten 53-16 away to Harlequins.
If the Stormers bow out of the Champions Cup and fail to make the Challenge Cup play offs by finishing fifth in the pool the sole focus will be back on the URC. They are currently just outside the play off positions in that competition and next week they head to Dublin to take on run away log leaders Leinster.
Team News
Racing 92: 15 Tristan Tedder, 14 Vinaya Habosi, 13 Josua Tuisova, 12 Dan Lancaster, 11 Max Spring, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Nolann le Garrec, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Maxime Baudonne, 6 Ibrahim Diallo (c), 5 Romain Taofifenua, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Thomas Laclayat, 2 Feleti Kaitu’u, 1 Hassane Kolingar
Replacements: 16 Diego Escobar, 17 Guram Gogichashvili, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Boris Palu, 20 Jordan Joseph, 21 Cameron Woki, 22 Antoine Gibert, 23 Henry Chavancy
Stormers: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Ben Loader, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Willie Engelbrecht, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Sti Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Dave Ewers, 21 Paul de Villiers, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Jean-Luc du Plessis
The Betting
Updated 18 Jan 08h45
Racing 92 -14.5 points at 9/10
Stormers +14.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
Posted 17 Jan 14h09
Like the other 2 games involving SA teams bookies have held back pricing until teams are released. Check back Saturday morning for our bet.
Posted 17 Jan 18h14
The teams are out and this handicap has been stable at Racing 92 -14.5. I am leaning to the minus but will wait for points lines before getting involved.
Posted 18 Jan 09h00
The handicap is stable at Racing 92 -14.5 and we have a points line of 53.5 and the game is played under roof.
Looking at the teams I am battling to look past a comfortable home win. There are in my opinion just too many weak links in that Stormers side. I think Racing will run them ragged but the bet I fancy is Racing over 4.5 tries at 1/1. I think this price will shorten.
BETt: 6 units Racing over 4.5 tries at 1/1 at Pokerbet
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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