Gulf with elite exposed as Racing pump up the volume

As the decibels of La Défense Arena’seardrum-crushing sound system kicked up another notch to drown out the ‘Fields of Athenry’ on Sunday afternoon, there could not have been a more apt signifier of how the money men are dominating the conversation in European club rugby.

That Racing 92 were slowly beginning to dismantle Munster’s Heineken Champions Cup hopes for another season on the field below with devastating brilliance as the clock wound down in Paris did not seem to be good enough for the powers that be at this marvel of an indoor arena.