Key duo missing for Racing Metro

Argentina fly-half Juan-Martin Hernandez and French winger Benjamin Fall will not travel with the Racing Metro squad that will face Leinster in the opening round of the Heineken Cup next Saturday at the RDS (kick off: 1:30pm), it was confirmed today.

Summer signings Hernandez, who arrived from Natal Sharks, and Fall, who signed from Bayonne, were absent for their side’s narrow 28-23 loss to Toulouse in the French Championship last weekend and have failed to shake off injuries for the Parisian club’s first ever Heineken Cup match.

Racing Metro only gained promotion back into the French top flight in 2008, and are currently occupying first place in the Top 14 table.

Captain Lionel Nallet is looking forward to the experience, but is aware of the challenge his side will face on Saturday.

“"In previous years when we have watched the Heineken Cup, we have always wanted to be a part of it," Nallet told ercrugby.com.

"This year we have a bit more experience as a team. We are still in a building phase. We have only been in the Top 14 for a year but now we are getting our bearings.

"The intensity of this tournament is a notch above and the main difference in the Heineken Cup is that if you make a little mistake you are almost out.

"Paying against Leinster won't be an easy task, but that's the kind of games all players want to play," added the former Les Bleus skipper.