Colm Tucker: Racing 92 preview

09 April 2025

Colm Tucker: Racing 92 preview

The Challenge Cup journey continues for Connacht Rugby as they welcome Top 14 side Racing 92 to Dexcom Stadium for the Quarter Final stage.

Connacht come into the game on the back of a 35-20 win over Cardiff in the Round of 16 and with home advantage will hope to reach the last four. 

"It was a resilient performance with lots of quality in there as well" Colm Tucker on the performance over Cardiff.

"I think we have shown good fight in a lot of games this season, in recent games against Ospreys and Munster we lost but they were only by a score"

"The difference on Saturday was we showed that little bit more quality and got those rewards"

The prize of beating Cardiff was a home knockout game against Racing 92, a club who have made Champions Cup finals in recent years and have a squad of big name players like Owen Farrell, Nolann Le Garrec and Gael Fickou.

"Racing have such a big side with lots of quality that they could bring a number of teams over here"

"We have to be focused on the threats they bring but our main focus is us and what we do"

The French side will be many peoples favourites for the game on Saturday but will having home advantage be a factor for Connacht in this game?

"I thought the atmosphere on Saturday against Cardiff was brilliant and thats on the back of what we got in Mayo which was top class"

"We love playing at Dexcom Stadium and in front of our supporters so it is a big factor for us"

Mack Hansen since coming back from the Six Nations has found himself wearing the 15 jersey and has impressed many with his performances so far.

"He's one of our x factor players and has great quality"

"Being at full back allows him to roam around and get on the ball a bit more"

"I think some people don't appreicate his off the ball work, his comms are brilliant in that back field and how he moves off the ball to get in certain positions is something you probably don't see on tv"

"He shows up for the team every week and the quality of his training is brilliant"

"He's a great character but he's a brilliant pro as well"

Another man who is stepping up his level of performances as the season goes on is back row Sean Jansen. Jansen played for the Ireland 'A' squad back in February against England 'A' and has found himself on the try scoring sheet the last two games.

"He's getting a run of games and inury free which is helping"

"He came on against Ospreys and was very effective and has been in the last two games as well"

"He loves the physical side of the game and carries really well"

"He's a great guy, he wants to learn and get better each week"