Munster must match Racing’s physicality

So much for the French unpredictability. The world and its mother knew Racing 92 would take a scalpel to the side that earned a losing bonus point away to Toulon in last week’s domestic fixture and the reigning Top 14 champions duly performed significant surgery.

Out go their half-backs Dan Carter and Maxime Machenaud - as well as four other backs - yesterday. So too Yannick Nyanga, Leone Nakawara, Eddy Ben Arous and team captain Dimitri Szarzewski from the pack.

In their place, Racing have named a team made up of grizzled vets and, you would expect, eager-to-please younger types. Eight of the starting side are aged 30 or over. Another half-dozen are 24 or younger. Only Juan Imhoff, at 28, is in his prime.