It’s all coming up Munster right now.
Sitting atop the Guinness PRO12 standings and their Champions Cup pool, Munster have a relatively light casualty list, their opponents are suffering and they have secured Jaco Taute’s services until the end of the season.
Rassie Erasmus’ men have lost just once since the start of October and most recently disposed of inter-pro rivals Leinster and Connacht in the festive fixtures.
Leicester Tigers, who handed them that loss, have parted ways with boss Richard Cockerill and Racing 92, this weekend’s Champions Cup opponents, have no chance of reaching the knock-out stages.
Racing welcome Munster to Paris on Saturday and many of their supporters have offered Munster fans free accommodation ahead, and on the night, of the game. Head coaches Laurent Labit and Laurent Travers are expected to be equally generous this weekend.
French media sources are reporting that Racing are likely to go into this weekend’s clash without Dan Carter, Maxime Machenaud and captain Dimitri Szarzewski. French international Remi Tales is definitely out after he was de-registered from the European squad.
There should still be a few familiar faces in the French side’s starting XV however. Chris Masoe is set to feature as is Irish scrum-half James Hart and former Munster centre Casey Laulala.
As for Munster, they will definitely be without Darren Sweetnam while Tommy O’Donnell remains a doubt to travel.
