Racing keen to build on Saints win

Editor

Racing Métro are keen to build on their win over Northampton in their previous game when they host Saracens in their quarter-final in Paris on Sunday.

That is the word from Racing's lock Francois van der Merwe, who ranks their 32-8 demolition of Saints at the Premiership champions' Franklin's Garden's home in Round Six right at the top of his list of highlights since joining the Parisian-based club.

"The performance at Northampton Saints was the best since the reorganisation of the club," he told the EPCR website.

"I have been here for the past seven years and we haven't had a game like that before – we've taken a lot of confidence from that performance," said Van der Merwe, who played in five of the six pool games.

"Saracens are a good team with a lot of experience. They have also been in the play-offs in Europe in the last two seasons so, in that sense, they are one up on us

"They have a well drilled pack of forwards and their new pitch has also turned them into a more expansive team. They drive a lot of line-outs and Charlie Hodgson certainly knows how to vary their game.

"They will want us to do something in the game, show our hand and perhaps expose ourselves. That's what happens in knock-out rugby, when teams play a little bit more conservatively and defensively."