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Le dernier match de la 4e journée de la Champions Cup se déroule sur la pelouse des Scarlets. Les Gallois comme l'Ulster
Scarlets coach Wayne Pivac expects his side’s European Rugby Champions Cup clash with Racing 92 at Parc y Scarlets to be an emotional occasion.
The Parisian club visit west Wales just a week after the terror attacks on the French capital which left nearly 130 people dead.
The Pool 3 encounter will be the first time the French club have played in the tournament. Their opening fixture against Glasgow Warriors was postponed in the immediate aftermath of the atrocities.
The Scarlets, who picked up a losing bonus-point in their clash at Northampton, are fully aware of just how important it will be to pick up a home win.
But they are keen to extend their sympathies and condolences to their opponents, with a minute’s silence and the playing of La Marseillaise planned prior to kick-off.
“The events in Paris have affected everyone around the globe,” said Pivac. “We expect Racing to be very motivated to put on a performance for the people back home.
“Obviously, we are feeling for the people in France, just like everybody else is, and it will be a special occasion as a result.
“There is going to be an emotional occasion out there on Saturday. It affects everybody in some way but for the people of France and the players coming across even more so.
“We will pay our respects, like all sides did last weekend and will do this weekend when playing a French side. The fact we are playing a side from Paris as well has a massive significance.”
Pivac admitted to being frustrated by key errors his men had made in losing 15-11 at Franklin’s Gardens, having had the opportunities to come away with a priceless away win, but he expects them to put things right on home soil.
“We are in a must-win situation really. The pressure is on us a bit with this being a home game,” he said. “It is no secret there are things we can improve on from last week, there are things we have discussed and there are things we will probably do differently this time.”
Match Facts
- Scarlets are undefeated in their two clashes with Racing 92, winning away and drawing at home in the 2013/14 tournament.
- Scarlets have won two of their last three Champions Cup matches on home soil, although that one loss came against French opposition (v RC Toulon).
- Racing 92 have won one and drawn two of their last four matches against Welsh opposition in the Champions Cup.
- In six games between Racing 92 and teams from Wales the final points margin has never been more than 6 points.
Incroyable entrée en scène des Ciel et Blanc qui ont récolté un point de bonus offensif avant même la pause sur la pelouse des Scarlets (29-12). Les voilà idéalement lancés avant les retrouvailles avec Northampton. - 21/11/2015 21:00
Racing 92 kicked-off their Champions Cup campaign with a bonus-point victory over the Scarlets.
The French club run-in four tries before half-time through Maxime Machenaud, Joe Rokocoko, Chris Mascoe and Marc Andreu to open up a commanding 26-0 lead at half-time.
But after cruising through the opening 40 minutes Racing had Bernard le Roux sent off and Ben Tameifuna sent to the sin bin after the break to give the Scarlets a route back into the contest.
It allowed the home side to hit back with two tries in the second period through Aled Thomas and Lewis Rawlings but the deficit was too much for the Scarlets to overturn and Racing held on for a deserved victory.
There had been a sombre start to the game after a minute’s silence and rendition of Les Marseillaise before kick-off for Racing’s first game since the terrorist attacks in their home city nine days ago.
Racing got game’s first try when scrum-half Machenaud chased and touched down Rokocoko’s kick down after the Scarlets covering defender DTH van der Merwe had misjudged the bounce.
Rokocoko then got the visitors second try with a trademark burst down the wing after 18 minutes.
The visitors had their third try of the match shortly before the half hour mark through number eight Chris Mascoe after good work by Machenaud and le Roux.
Racing secured the bonus point before half-time when the influential Machenaud found space and sent Marc Andreu over in the corner.
Three minutes after the interval the Scarlets’ luck changed when le Roux was shown a red card for a stamp on Ken Owens’ ankle on the floor.
They soon made the most of their numerical advantage as Owens floated a long pass out wide to put full-back Aled Thomas over in the corner.
Racing had replacement Tameifuna sent to the bin on 65 minutes for not staying on his feet and the home side grabbed a second try shortly after through Lewis Rawlings, but a penalty from full-back Johan Goosen made sure of the victory for the visitors.
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