Paris (AFP)

Double ration of "crunch" in the semi-finals of the European Rugby Cup on Saturday: in its quest for a first star, Racing 92 rubs shoulders with the Saracens armada and Toulouse Stadium goes to Exeter with the ambition to reconnect with its glorious past.

Two Franco-English semi-finals (2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.), this is unheard of in the competition initiated in 1995. This edition turned upside down by the health crisis, the outcome of which takes place exceptionally in the fall, gave birth to an enticing menu.

Starting with Racing 92, two-time finalist in the European Cup (2016, 2018) and current leader of the Top 14, which receives what is best on the continent in recent years.

Les Sarries have won three of the last four editions of the Champions Cup (2016, 2017, 2019).

With four trophies, the last in 2010, Stade Toulouse is the most successful club in the competition tied with the Irish from Leinster.

The Chiefs of Exeter put their feet for the first time in the last four but are, like Toulouse, undefeated, and dominate the English Championship.

With two representatives, French rugby has strengthened its chances of winning back a trophy that has eluded it since 2015 and the Toulon treble.

But the march promises to be high, especially for Racing which will however have the advantage of receiving.

Advantage, really?

Not sure since the Sarries achieved a tour de force on the Leinster field (25-17 behind closed doors), in the quarter-finals, that the English team is used to playing on a synthetic turf and that Racing will have to to do with an even more limited number of supporters, health context requires.

- The over-motivated Sarries -

A thousand spectators, instead of 5,000, "it's going to be even sadder," lamented international hooker Camille Chat, one of the most prominent Racingmen in Clermont (36-27) in the quarter-finals.

"Even if it is behind closed doors, we will do the game it takes to win," said scrum captain and half Teddy Iribaren, convinced that his team is capable of bringing down the overmotivated Sarries by the prospect to retain their title before joining the English Second Division.

Sanctioned for several breaches of the salary cap, the Watford club has known for several months that he will leave the elite next season.

This did not prevent him from keeping a workforce that largely feeds the XV de la Rose, vice-world champion.

Even the absence of the versatile Owen Farrell, captain and scorer of the English selection, who is serving a suspension for a tackle to the throat, did not seem to bother them against Leinster, outgoing finalist.

Having resources is "what makes the strength of great teams", underlines Racing 92 coach Laurent Travers, who hopes to beat the odds.

The Ile-de-France club have won only two of their eight confrontations with the Sarries, the last in November in Nanterre (30-10) against a very overhauled English team.

- The wonders of Kolbe -

Stade Toulouse has never faced Exeter in European competition.

Impressive mastery against Ulster (36-8), the 2019 French champion approaches this trip with a good dose of confidence.

The hinge of the XV of France Romain Ntamack-Antoine Dupont, takes confidence, and the South African star Cheslin Kolbe, still author of two tests, including a sumptuous against the Irish club, is doing wonders.

"He is incredible. You just have to give him the ball as quickly as possible and let the magic work," comments Toulouse center center New Zealander Pita Ahki of the man he considers "the best player. of the world".

The only team from the last four to have signed only victories (7), the Toulouse stadium hopes to continue the series at the Sandy Park stadium, deprived of its warm audience.

One more success and the Rouge et Noir would return to the final for the first time in ten years.

© 2020 AFP