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Northampton make three changes while Racing include Finn Russell

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Northampton have made three changes to their starting XV for Friday’s Heineken Champions Cup opener against a star-studded Racing team that includes Scotland talisman Finn Russell at out-half. The Parisians have been going through a sticky spell in the Top 14, dropping to eighth on the table after four defeats in the last five outings.

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However, rather than look to cotton wool players for league games later this month, Racing will fly into England with all guns blazing as they seek to make a good start in a European tournament where they were beaten finalists in October 2020, Laurent Travers’ side losing the showpiece decider to Exeter at Bristol.

Defeated by Montpellier, Brive and Bordeaux in recent weeks, Racing were beaten 25-3 at Castres last weekend and have now bolstered their selection with five changes, including Kurtley Beale at full-back, Teddy Thomas on the wing, skipper Gael Fickou in the midfield, Russell at out-half and Bernard le Roux in their pack.

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Ex-All Blacks prop John Afoa guests on the latest RugbyPass Offload

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Ex-All Blacks prop John Afoa guests on the latest RugbyPass Offload

Northampton, meanwhile, have included Matt Proctor, Api Ratuniyarawa and Nick Auterac following last weekend’s six-try win over bottom club Bath in the Premiership.

Saints boss Chris Boyd insisted he hasn’t been fooled by Racing’s underwhelming French league form. “If you have a look at some of their games they have been dreadful but it seems to be the French way. They could go to an away game that they don’t appear to be very interested in… so you don’t get that sort of a swing in the Premiership.

“You can go and find anything you want to find from Racing, poor defence, good defence, wide attack, aerial kicking, you can find whatever you like because they can produce it all but what we do know is when they put all their best players together and they are focused on a performance, then a team like Racing would probably beat certainly all tier two nations globally and would probably give some of the bottom of the tier one nations a bit of a hurry up. They are a quality side.”

NORTHAMPTON: 15. George Furbank; 14. Tommy Freeman, 13. Matt Proctor, 12. Fraser Dingwall, 11. Courtnall Skosan; 10. Dan Biggar, 9. Alex Mitchell; 1. Nick Auterac, 2. Sam Matavesi, 3. Ehren Painter, 4. David Ribbans, 5. Api Ratuniyarawa, 6. Karl Wilkins, 7. Lewis Ludlam (capt), 8. Juarno Augustus. Reps: 16. James Fish, 17. Alex Waller, 18. Conor Carey, 19. Alex Coles, 20. Tom Wood, 21. Frank Lomani, 22. Rory Hutchinson, 23. Ollie Sleightholme

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RACING 92: 15. Kurtley Beale; 14. Teddy Thomas, 13. Virimi Vakatawa, 12. Gael Fickou (capt), 11. Juan Imhoff; 10. Finn Russell, 9. Maxime Machenaud; 1. Guram Gogichashvili, 2. Teddy Baubigny, 3. Ali Oz, 4. Luke Jones, 5. Bernard le Roux, 6. Wenceslas Lauret, 7. Ibrahim Diallo, 8. Yoan Tanga. Reps: 16. Camille Chat, 17. Eddy Ben Arous, 18. Cedate Gomes Sa, 19. Anton Bresler, 20. Baptiste Chouzenoux, 21. Antoine Gibert, 22. Henry Chavancy, 23. Donovan Taofifenua

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SK 3 hours ago
'Razor's conservatism is in danger of halting New Zealand's progress'

Its an interesting few points you raise Nick. Rassie has been way bolder than Razor in selection but then again he really has to be as he plots towards 2027. The reality is more than half his squad from 2023 may have to be culled and this includes some of the best players the Boks have ever had on their books. The age profile of his team was such that he needed to blood all these young players and he will do the same next year with even more players as he tries to put together a squad with enough experience to take to 2027. Razor on the other hand has a large number of players that will make 2027. Alot of players will be over 100 caps and these players would have multiple caps together. A large amount of these are starters as well. He is trying to build combinations and a rigid style of play. Razor wants absolute control and you can see it. He wants his players to follow his instructions to the tee. He will not accept anything less. He has included some young guns who he will stick with and older players who have earned his trust. Razor goes with what he knows and appears reluctant to accept quick change. He is the kind of coach who will change incrementally and that may not be a bad thing given his position and the profile of his squad. It also gives the players time to setlle into their roles and to work within his system. Razor has a narrow focus on winning. he wants results now and wont take any risks in selection while he believes the current group can win. He is the most conservative NZ coach in the last 25 years to take the top job. This could stall NZ progress or it could create a team that is unstoppable and ready for anything going into 2027 albeit without the same level of depth as the Boks.

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