PARIS (AFP) – Star-studded but struggling Racing 92 host bottom side Vannes in the French Top 14 on Saturday after their outspoken owner compared ex-England fly-half Owen Farrell to a “snail going backwards”.
Farrell joined the Parisians this season but has played just nine league games due to a groin injury.
The 33-year-old featured in his first Top 14 game since November in January 25’s Castres loss and is a doubt to face the promoted Breton outfit this weekend.
“The pain came back against Castres, he was weakened and played at the speed of a snail going backwards,” the often-vocal Jacky Lorenzetti told Midi Olympique this week.
“On the field we haven’t seen the real Farrell.
“However, day-to-day we can count on an incredible leader, who loves the club and wants to win,” he added after having also criticised Siya Kolisi during his one-year spell at the three-time Champions Cup runners-up.
Racing are in a tricky situation, having replaced the sacked Stuart Lancaster with Patrice Collazo earlier this month.
The Frenchman, who played once for France, has been brought in to avoid relegation as he did with Montpellier last season.
Former England boss Lancaster’s final fixture in charge of the six-time champions was last month’s home humbling to Castres as they stretched their winless run to six matches, their worst ever series of results in the Top 14.
“I watched the game, we had no gameplan, Lorenzetti said.
“It was despair.
“We had to react to avoid a catastrophe,” he added.
Farrell is one of six British players in the Racing squad who have been attracted to the leafy western Parisian suburbs.
Other big names in the set-up include England winger Henry Arundell, Fiji midfielder Josua Tuisova and France centre Gael Fickou.
“It was part of the things that made my decision to sack Lancaster,” vineyard owner and financial services specialist Lorenzetti said.
“I didn’t wan’t to alter the image of Racing.
“In recent months when I would drink my morning coffee in the clubhouse as I usually do, people only spoke ‘British’ around,” the 77-year-old added.
Elsewhere, Fiji’s Tokyo Olympics rugby sevens gold medallist Sireli Maqala and his play-off hunting Bayonne side welcome Top 14 leaders Bordeaux-Begles to a sold-out Stade Jean-Dauger.
Fleet-footed centre Maqala has guided the Basques to a surprise fourth in the table, crossing for 10 tries this season, but trails Toulon winger Gael Drean in the scoring charts by one touchdown.
“Our goal is to finish in the top six. We spoke about it this week at training and it’s totally possible,” Maqala told Midi Olympique on Tuesday.
“I will do everything to become the top try scorer again.
“Obviously being in the top three is good but being number one is better,” the softly spoken 24-year-old added.
Racing’s fellow Parisians in Stade Francais in 13th place are also in trouble and welcome Pau while champions Toulouse are without nine players, including Antoine Dupont, as they have been rested by France during a break week in the Six Nations, as the travel to Clermont.
