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Sky Live: Racing 92 v Castres Champions Cup preview

By Sky Sports Rugby Union

Friday 15 December 2017 19:04, UK

Racing 92's centre Virimi Vakatawa runs with the ball during the TOP14 rugby union match Racing 92 against Oyonnax at The Yves Du Manoir Stadium in Colombe
Image: Virimi Vakatawa is back for Racing 92 as they look for victory over Castres

Racing 92 have made six changes to their starting XV for the visit of Castres on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Action, with the headline news the return of Virimi Vakatawa for Racing's last match at the Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir.

Laurent Labit, Laurent Travers and co will move into the U Arena after this weekend, with the club expecting 10,000 fans for their farewell in Colombes.

Brice Dulin and Teddy Thomas and have been dropped from the 23 entirely, with Juan Imhoff shifting to full-back and wings Vakatawa and Louis Dupichot coming in.

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Anthony Tuitavke starts at outside-centre, replacing fellow Kiwi Rokocoko, who drops down to the bench.

Up front, Cedate Gomes Sa comes in to start at tighthead with Ben Tameifuna dropping to the bench, while Donnacha Ryan comes into the second row for his Racing Champions Cup debut alongside last week's try scorer Edwin Maka.

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - APRIL 24 2016: Joe Rokocoko (L) of Racing 92 passes on instructions to Dan Carter during the European Rugby Champions Cup Semi-Final
Image: Joe Rokocoko drops to the bench as one of six changes

Flanker Bernard Le Roux also replaces Boris Palu on the openside, who is named among the replacements.

Castres have gone even further by making a massive 11 changes to their squad for the trip to Paris, after last week's slender 16-13 success.

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Christophe Urios has changed his entire front row with Tudor Stroe, Marc-Antoine Rallier and Yohan Montes coming in to replace Antoine Tichit, Jody Jenneker and Daniel Kotze at loosehead, hooker and tighthead respectively.

Castres' head-coach Christophe Urios looks on during the French Top 14 Rugby union match between Castres and Toulon, at the Pierre Fabre Stadium, in Catsre
Image: Castres head coach Christophe Urios has made 11 changes to his side

There's a whole new second row too as Christophe Samson and Loic Jacquet replace Thibault Lassale and Rodrigo Capo.

Yannick Caballero is the only forward to keep his place from last week, with Steve Mafi and Alex Tulou coming in on the openside and No 8.

Castres's scrum-half Rory Kockott passes the ball during the Champions Cup rugby Union match, Castres vs Munster at the Pierre Fabre stadium in Castres, s
Image: Castres scrum-half Rory Kockott is one of a host of new players in the starting XV

In the halfback positions, Yohan Le Bourhis and Rory Kockott replace Benjamin Urdapilleta and Ludovic Radoslavjevic, though winger Afusipa Taumoepeau and centres Robert Ebersohn and Florian Vialelle do remain in situ.

Full-back Julien Caminati and wing Kylian Jaminet complete the changes as they start ahead of Armand Batlle and star man David Smith.

Castres' number eight Maama Vaipulu (L) runs with the ball during this Champions Cup rugby Union match between Castres Olympique Rugby and Munster Rugby at
Image: Castres No 8 Maama Vaipulu is not involved

Last weekend's encounter was the first time the clubs have met in European competition and 2016 Champions Cup runners-up Racing must win on Saturday to keep their quarter-final hopes alive.

Castres could seize top spot in Pool 4 with a bonus-point victory, if only temporarily with Munster playing their Round 4 clash against Leicester at Welford Road on Sunday.

Racing 92's Fijian lock Leone Nakarawa runs with the ball during the French Top 14 Rugby union match between Montpellier and Racing 92 on May 20, 2017 at t
Image: Leone Nakarawa starts at No 8 for Racing again

Racing 92: 15 Juan Imhoff, 14 Louis Dupichot, 13 Henry Chavancy, 12 Anthony Tuitavke, 11 Virimi Vakatawa, 10 Remi Tales, 9 Maxime Machenaud (c); 1 Eddy Ben Arous, 2 Camille Chat, 3 Cedate Gomes Sa, 4 Donnacha Ryan, 5 Edwin Maka, 6 Yannick Nyanga, 7 Bernard Le Roux, 8 Leone Nakarawa.

Replacements: 16 Dimitri Szarzewski, 17 Vasil Kakovin, 18 Ben Tameifuna, 19 Boris Palu, 20 Wenceslas Lauret, 21 Teddy Iribaren, 22 Antoine Gibert, 23 Joe Rokocoko.

Castres: 15 Julien Caminati, 14 Afusipa Taumoepeau, 13 Robert Ebersohn (c), 12 Florian Vialelle, 11 Kylian Jaminet, 10 Yohan Le Bourhis, 9 Rory Kockott; 1 Tudor Stroe, 2 Marc-Antoine Rallier, 3 Yohan Montes, 4 Christophe Samson, 5 Loic Jacquet, 6 Yannick Caballero, 7 Steve Mafi, 8 Alex Tulou.

Replacements: 16 Kevin Firmin, 17 Mihaita Lazar, 18 Eric Sione, 19 Alexandre Bias, 20 Rodrigo Capo Ortega, 21 Yohan Domenech, 22 Benjamin Urdapilleta, 23 Thomas Combezou.

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