Latest
Overview
Season so far
Tournament record
The U Arena opens its doors to European club rugby for the first time on Sunday when Munster Rugby travel to face Racing 92
The U Arena opens its doors to European club rugby for the first time on Sunday when Munster Rugby travel to face Racing 92, live on BT Sport. Munster will qualify as Pool 4 winners if they pick up an away victory this weekend, but Racing 92 could overtake the Irish province with a win.
· The clubs have met five times previously. Racing 92 won their first encounter in the 2012/13 season with Munster winning all four fixtures since then.
· The last time Racing hosted Munster they suffered their joint heaviest defeat in Europe losing by 25 points, level with losses to Leinster and Clermont.
· Despite that defeat to Munster, Racing 92 have managed to win seven of their last nine games at home, never conceding more than 18 points in those seven victories.
· Racing have a goalkicking success rate of just 65% this season, the lowest rate of any side in the competition.
· The top two ball carriers this season could face each other on Sunday. CJ Stander has made a competition high 71 carries, with Leone Nakarawa just one behind on 70.
Racing 92 edged a pulsating first ever European match at the brand new U Arena but Munster's losing bonus point keeps them top of Champions Cup Pool 4. - 14/01/2018 18:04
Racing 92 edged a pulsating first ever European match at the brand new U Arena but Munster’s losing bonus point keeps them top of Champions Cup Pool 4.
- Maxime Machenaud finished with 19 points for the hosts, whose victory puts them one point behind the Irishmen going into next weekend's pool stage climax.
- The sides exchanged tries in the first half through Yannick Nyanga and Jean Kleyn, with Machenaud's boot the difference as the hosts led 13-7 at the interval. Missed penalties by Conor Murray and Ian Keatley proved costly for the visitors.
- Marc Andreu squeezed over in the corner for Racing's second try but Keith Earls' balletic footwork saw him brilliantly reduce arrears to 18-14.
- Chris Farrell's try then gave Munster the advantage before an exchange of penalties saw the lead change hands. Racing struck a big blow, though, when Teddy Thomas set up Dimitri Szarzewski to put them 28-27 ahead.
- A monster penalty by Murray was swiftly followed by three points from the tee by Machenaud and the French scrum-half was faultless again as he clinched a dramatic win with another late kick.
- Munster know a bonus-point win at home to Castres Olympique next Sunday afternoon will guarantee top spot. Racing 92 travel to Leicester Tigers and must better Munster's result or face the perils of the best runners-up calculator.
LIVE - TEST - Commentary