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Racing name Champions Cup final team, 3 changes from win over Saracens
By Online Editors
Racing 92 have made three changes to their Champions Cup final team from the side that eliminated holders Saracens in the last month's semi-final in Paris.
The French club, who have spent this week preparing in Corsica for the European showpiece, have gone for Louis Dupichot in place of Teddy Thomas, skipper Henry Chavancy comes in for Olivier Klemenczak, Bernard Le Roux starts at second row instead of Donnacha Ryan.
Recently Kurtley Beale, who missed the semi-final due to suspension for a Top 14 red card, has been chosen on the bench with the demoted Klemenczak and Ryan. Thomas slips out of the matchday 23 altogether.
For Racing, being able to pick such a strong Champions Cup side will have been a relief as nine players contracted Covid in the week following the win over Saracens. That resulted in their Top 14 match at La Rochelle getting postponed.
When Racing did return to play in last weekend's league meeting with Toulouse, they selected just three of the starting XV from the Saracens game, instead whisking the likes of Finn Russell away early to Corsica to prepare early for the European final.
Saturday will be the club's third showpiece appearance following defeat to Saracens in 2016 and to Leinster two years later.
They will take on an Exeter side showing two changes from their Premiership semi-final win over Bath, Jack Nowell and Ian Whitten getting called in to start.
RACING: 15. Simon Zebo, 14. Louis Dupichot, 13. Virimi Vakatawa, 12. Henry Chavancy (c), 11. Juan Imhoff, 10. Finn Russell, 9. Teddy Iribaren, 1. Eddy Ben Arous, 2. Camille Chat, 3. Georges Henri Colombe, 4. Bernard Le Roux, 5. Dominic Bird, 6. Wenceslas Lauret, 7. Fabien Sanconnie, 8. Antonie Claassen. Replacements: 16. Teddy Baubigny, 17. Hassane Kolingar, 18. Ali Oz, 19. Donnacha Ryan, 20. Boris Palu, 21. Maxime Machenaud, 22. Olivier Klemenczak, 23. Kurtley Beale,
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Latest Comments
Willis is incredible and probably the best of the bunch but in Underhill and Earl we have two excellent alternatives.
Willis is solid in the lineout but I don't think Borthwick would pick a backrow without a 6'5" blindside.
Go to commentsAs an ABs fan there’s nothing to justify
The Boks are the best and just know how to win
And their depth is incredible now
And when they don’t they lose late on by one point
The rest of us aren’t too far away (some closer than others)
But in reality if we include England Argentina and now Aus rugby looks greatly competitive
Bongis knock on and Lomaxes double bank
These things happen
The fact is the ABs overall have evolved with new players and others like Aumua Vaai and Williams who have progressed immensely
But by and large although it has improved overall our second halves are a massive work in progress
So a B- is about right provided there is no loss to Italy
A loss drops it to C- !!
Remember we could have lost all three games to England but were just slightly better that’s all
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