Get Newsletter

Preview: Leicester Tigers v Racing 92

The pair will be on opposite sides when Carter, a veteran of 112 Tests and one of the stars of the All Blacks 2015 World Cup-winning side, bids to lead Paris-based Racing into their first major European final this weekend.

ADVERTISEMENT

Few people have had longer experience of the skills of Carter, international rugby union's leading points-scorer, than former New Zealand centre Mauger.

"He's never been overawed by any challenge, and it's no different now. He's probably been the difference for Racing this year, even though you don't want to pin too much on one person. He'll back himself to play what's in front of him, but we've got to back ourselves to take that time and space away from him, limit his options and put him under pressure," Mauger said.

Mauger, 35, has been widely credited with adding an extra degree of backline flair this season to a Leicester side traditionally known for forward power. European rugby was widely criticised for a lack of attacking edge following last year's World Cup in England, where no team from the continent made it through to the semifinals.

But, as far as club rugby is concerned, Mauger believes the European Champions Cup may now have the edge on the southern hemisphere's expanded Super Rugby tournament.

"I think the Champions Cup is getting bigger, a bit more so now as I believe Super Rugby has been diluted by adding extra teams, which is a bit of a concern for them down there.

"I think the European competition is probably the higher-quality competition, because you've got all the best teams, especially at this stage, you've got teams who deserve to be there in big games," he added.

ADVERTISEMENT

Dan Carter, so often a thorn in English sides, will look to go one step closer to winning the World Cup and European Champions Cup in the same season this weekend.

Racing are all that stand in the way of an English side being crowned club champions of Europe for the first time in nine years as Saturday's first semifinal is an all-Premiership affair between Saracens and Wasps.

Carter has settled in superbly at Racing. The 34-year-old is expected to be fit after injuring his right knee in Racing's 19-16 quarterfinal victory over Toulon that ended their French rivals bid to win an unprecedented fourth successive European crown.

Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill has warned his side not to get fixated on Carter.

ADVERTISEMENT

"Clearly Carter's a very important player for them, but I think it's a little bit naive to say we'll target Dan Carter and put him off his game," Cockerill said.

One of Racing's other attacking threats is Argentina wing Juan Imhoff. An excellent finisher, as he proved at the World Cup, Imhoff is well aware of the threat posed by a Leicester side whose pack is set to include his Pumas colleague Marcos Ayerza in the front row.

"They have maybe the best scrum in Europe and they're solid in the backline,. He's [Marcos Ayerza] a true Argentinian prop…The best tighthead prop in the world," Imhoff said.

Recent results: The clubs have never met in the competition.

Prediction: Leicester have progressed from five of their previous six tournament semifinal ties – their last win at this stage was against Cardiff Blues in 2009. This will be Racing's first appearance in a European semifinal. Only once in their last 20 fixtures against Top 14 opposition have Leicester won back-to-back matches. On the last five occasions that Racing have played Premiership opposition, they have conceded 12 points or fewer. Leicester are the only side in this season's Champions Cup to achieve a success rate of 90 percent or better at both the scrum and lineout. Racing have conceded the fewest tries, seven, of any team in the competition this season. Leicester, meanwhile, have scored the most – 30. Dan Carter has missed just one of 20 shots at goal this season, giving him the best success rate of any of the 24 players to attempt 10-plus place kicks. Henry Chavancy and Brendon O'Connor are joint-leaders in the turnovers category this season with 10 each. This will certainly be a tight one and the chance of advancing to their first Final will hand Racing the edge by about three points.

Teams:

Leicester Tigers: 15 Mathew Tait (captain), 14 Telusa Veainu, 13 Peter Betham, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Vereniki Goneva, 10 Freddie Burns, 8 Opeti Fonua, 7 Lockey McCaffrey, 6 Michael Fitzgerald, 5 Graham Kitchener, 4 Dom Barrow, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Harry Thacker, 1 Marcos Ayeiza.

Replacements: 6 Greg Bateman, 17 Logovi'i Mulipola, 18 Fraser Balmain, 19 Ed Slater, 20 Tom Croft, 21 Sam Harrison, 22 Owen Williams, 23 Adam Thompstone.

Racing 92: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Johan Goosen, 12 Alexandre Dumoulin, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Maxime Machenaud (captain), 8 Chris Masoe, 7 Bernard le Roux, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 5 Francois van der Merwe, 4 Luke Charteris, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Virgile Lacombe, 1 Eddy Ben Lacombe.

Replacements: 16 Camille Chat, 17 Khatchik Vartanov, 18 Luc Ducalcon, 19 Manuel Carizza, 20 Antonie Claassen, 21 Mike Phillips, 22 Remi Tales, 23 Louis Dupichot.

Date: Sunday, April 24

Venue: City Ground, Nottingham

Kick-off: 14.15 (15.15 CEST)

Predicted weather: Cold with some sunny spells and a chance of rain. High of 10, low of 3

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Leighton Hodges (Wales)

TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Write A Comment