European Champions Cup last eight

1. Saracens only English team in Champions Cup last four
2. Toulon 32-18 Wasps FT
3. Helu scores twice as defiant Wasps lose to champions
4. Racing Metro 11-12 Saracens FT
5. Bosch sends Saracens through with last-gasp kick
6. Bath and Northampton both lost in last eight on Saturday

Goodbye

AP

And then there was one! The weekend started with four clubs from England in the quarter-finals. It ends with Saracens flying the Premiership flag in top-flight European rugby after two days of high drama, brilliant tries, yellows cards, heartbreak and elation. Thanks for your company.

Reaction

Wasps director of rugby Dai Young tells BT Sport: "Obviously I'm really pleased with the commitment and attitude we showed as well as the never-say-die spirit. But we gave them too much respect in the first half and made too many errors. Although we are disappointed with the result today, two seasons ago we were fighting relegation. We will learn a lot from today. We have mixed it with the best team in Europe."

Semi-final line-up

The 2015 Champions Cup semi-final line-up:

Clermont v Saracens on 18 April

Toulon v Leinster on 19 April

BBC analyst David Quirke on BBC Coventry and Warwickshire and 5 live sports extra: "Wasps have to remember the journey that they have been on over the last couple of years. It wasn't long ago that they were scrapping against relegation and bankruptcy. Now they have a new home and are pushing the champions all the way in the knock-out stages of the European Cup."

Player reaction

Wasps captain James Haskell tells BT Sport: "The better team won on the day. In the first half we kept making the same errors. To win European rugby you have to go to a dark place and consistently be ruthless. We are at a turning point in the season. Is moving to Coventry going to be the only talking point of our season? Or do we aim for a top-four or top-six finish?"

Player reaction

Toulon's ex-London Irish full-back Delon Armitage tells BT Sport: "We make it difficult for ourselves. It's simple, it's our discipline. We give away penalties in tight games like this but we have got away with it. It's something we need to work on if we want to progress in this competition."

Full-time

Brave effort by Wasps in the end. They unsettled the European champions but pay the price for giving Toulon too much respect in the first half.

Try

Is that game over? Having clawed their way back into the tie, Wasps leave the door open for Ali Williams to go over in the right-hand corner and all but seal Toulon's semi-final place. Frederic Michalak seals a fine afternoon by kicking the extra two points.

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Patrick C Keogh on Twitter: "Scintillating passage of play from #Wasps there. Brilliant stuff"

BBC analyst David Quirke on BBC Coventry and Warwickshire and 5 live sports extra: "I think that it could be a very different game had Wasps shown Toulon a little less respect in the first half. They have put together a thrilling 35 minutes after the break.

"Still, there are six or so minutes to find a converted try to force the game into extra time."

Listen live via the tab at the top of this page.

Try

AFP

Amazing! Wasps move to within seven points of the European champions as Will Helu gets his second try after some more brilliant work from the backs, although Andy Goode misses the conversion. The try followed a period of sustained pressure by the visitors with Joe Simpson causing havoc down the Toulon right wing.

Penalty

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Scoreboard action! But it's not good news for Wasps as Frederic Michalak fires over his sixth penalty following an infringement from the scrum.

We've already witnessed last-kick European drama today. Are we going to see a repeat of that thrilling Saracens win? Wasps will be pleased with their efforts in this half but the scoreboard has gone quiet.

BBC analyst David Quirke on BBC Coventry and Warwickshire and 5 live sports extra: "It is still very close. One score from Wasps and it puts it all back in the melting pot."

Listen live via the tabs at the top of this page.

Referee George Clancy is handing out some lectures. "Do you understand that?" he bellows. The Frenchman in the red shirt nods and turns away.

AFP

Wasps are on the charge again through Guy Thompson. Toulon snuff out the danger this time. The visitors have added seven points since the interval. The European champions have yet to score in this half.

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John McEnerney: Lets see if Wasps can reel in Toulon, it's a big ask. Toulon have a little too much of everything for Wasps but you never know!

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Wasps director of rugby Dai Young said the pressure would be on Toulon if Wasps were still in this by the 65-minute mark. We've got 20 minutes left and the Premiership club are very much alive.

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Toulon are stung. Wasps win a penalty in their own 22 after the Top 14 leaders hack down field. Andy Goode has been impressive since coming on and fires a fine kick to touch.

BBC analyst David Quirke on BBC Coventry and Warwickshire and 5 live sports extra: "Toulon's Josua Tuisova slipped in midfield and that allowed Elliot Daly to take the outside line, draw the last man and give the scoring pass.

"We said at half-time that the first score of the second half would be big. Now Wasps have it, can they build on it? Toulon appear to be getting a little edgy, even though they don't need to."

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Try

They can't, can they? Wasps have improved dramatically this half and they have their reward as Tonga international Will Helu goes over following a slip by Josua Tuisova. It followed a fine take by Bradley Davies and an equally impressive run by Elliot Daly. Andy Goode kicks another two points and Wasps are back in this.

Replacement

Having repelled Toulon, Wasps are now bringing on some ammunition in the shape of Carlo Festuccia. They're not out of this just yet.

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BBC analyst David Quirke on BBC Coventry and Warwickshire and 5 live sports extra: "For all the money in the world it looked like Delon Armitage was in there, but that was superb defence from Rob Miller. That move just showed how dangerous Toulon are with the smallest sniff of space."

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Great passage of play. Frederick Michalak offloads and Delon Armitage is powering towards the line. He's just about to go over when Rob Miller produces a superb last-ditch challenge to prevent the try. Toulon are knocking on the door.

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All very tame. The men in red are in command. Wasps force a scrum on the French 22 line after good work by Joe Simpson to switch play to the blindside and release Tom Varndell.

Replacement

First change for Wasps and that's the end of Alex Lozowski's game. Andy Goode comes on.

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Wasps need a fast start to the half. They have been too pedestrian but they just cannot threaten. Toulon are bossing this.

Kick-off

Back under way.

@waspsrugby

Wasps: A nice view to pass half time. It will look even sweeter if Wasps can comeback this 2nd half. Big 40!

Can Wasps claw it back? They're going to have to improve significantly after being suffocated by Toulon.

BBC analyst David Quirke on BBC Coventry and Warwickshire and 5 live sports extra: "Wasps have been a little over-eager - incurring penalties when they would have been better to hang back and be more streetwise.

"Toulon carry threat from all over the pitch, but a try for Wasps could turn the momentum. Toulouse recovered from 18-0 adrift to beat them recently. But Wasps need to score next."

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There have been positives for Wasps. Alex Lozowski has shown good composure with his kicking while the visitors did manage to get into the Toulon 22 on the stroke of half-time.

BBC

Half-time

It was always going to take something special from Wasps. But too many errors and not enough attacking threat has made their job even harder. The European champions are in control.

Penalty

Frederic Michalak. Who else? Wasps have allowed the hosts to establish a healthy advantage after another mistake - this time an infringement in their own 22.

Penalty

Fourteen of Toulon's 19 points have come from the boot of Frederic Michalak. The French fly-half kicks his fourth penalty and Wasps now find themselves trailing by 13 points.

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Toulon are in full flow as they look to increase their advantage before the break. A great piece of skill by Delon Armitage almost leads to a try but good work by Tom Varndell and Joe Simpson frustrates the hosts.

BBC analyst David Quirke on BBC Coventry and Warwickshire and 5 live sports extra: "Toulon will have wanted to make more of the power play created by Rob Miller's yellow card. At the moment it is just 3-3 since he was sent to the sin bin."

Listen live via the tab at the top of this page.

Penalty

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It was a tight low scoring affair in Paris earlier. Not here. Frederic Michalak maintains his 100% kicking record after a Wasps mistake.

Penalty

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Alex Lozowski is so fresh-faced he looks as though he is still at school. But the youngster is showing no nerves on the big European stage as he makes it two penalties out of two after the pack win a scrum penalty.

Penalty

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Disaster for Wasps as Rob Miller is shown a yellow card for slowing the ball down as Guilhem Guirado powered towards the Wasps line. Frederic Michalak kicks his second penalty. Too easy.

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Encouraging signs for Wasps. A tremendous break by Rob Miller but it is brought to a halt by a deflected hand. Dai Young won't be happy with the score. But the Wasps head coach will be pleased with his team's performance so far.

Penalty

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The European champions are looking sharp. In contrast Wasps are trying to force the game and another error allows Frederic Michalak to restore's Toulon's seven point advantage.

Penalty

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There's a pocket of yellow in the Stade Mayol and Wasps' army of travelling fans leap out of their seats as Alex Lozowski kicks his team's first points. Great kick by the inexperienced fly-half on his first European start. Dai Young will feel better after that.

It already looks like it is going to be a long afternoon for Wasps. Their defence is coming under huge pressure. Toulon are on the charge again.

Try

First bit of quality from the reigning European champions and the Toulon scoreboard is up and running. Mathieu Bastareaud powers over the line from five metres out after powerful work by the French forwards. Referee George Clancy consults upstairs just to make sure but there was never any doubt. Frederic Michalak kicks two further points.

Huge roar goes up as Bakkies Botha bounces into young Wasps fly-half Alex Lozowski. The French crowd loved that. Has that set the tone for things to come?

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Positive start by the Premiership visitors. Wasps win an early penalty within 40 metres of the Toulon line and there's a chance of an early attack.

Kick-off

We're under way. Can Wasps produce a shock?

Team news

Toulon: Armitage, Tuisova, Bastareaud, Mermoz, Mitchell, Michalak, Tillous-Borde, Menini, Guirado, Hayman, Botha, Williams, Gorgodze, Armitage, Masoe.

Replacement: Orioli, Chiocci, Chilachava, Lobbe, Wulf, Giteau, Claassens, Suta.

Wasps: Miller, Helu, Daly, Masi, Varndell, Lozowski, Simpson, Mullan, Shervington, Cittadini, Davies, Myall, Johnson, Haskell, Thompson.

Replacements: Festuccia, McIntyre, Cooper-Woolley, Gaskell, Young, Davies, Goode, Leiua

Get involved #bbcrugby

Patrick C Keogh: Racing Metro unbelievably naive to think they could close the game out by sealing the ruck off. Definite penalty. Threw it away against Saracens.

The teams are in the tunnel. There isn't a spare seat at the Stade Mayol. The sun is beating down in the south of France. Why on earth did Jonny Wilkinson want to play here?

'We are huge underdogs'

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They're languishing in sixth place in the Premiership table and they conceded 52 points in their last outing. Do Wasps have any chance of ruining Toulon's hopes of a historic third straight European crown?

"We are huge underdogs going into the game, but that also means we've got nothing to lose," says scrum-half Joe Simpson. "All the pressure will be on them in front of their home fans. We are a strong unit and we have players who can hurt you in attack and that makes us dangerous."

Wasps' form is actually on the up. They have won seven and drawn two of 13. But make no mistake. If they beat Toulon it will a huge surprise.

'We have worked hard to be here'

Wasps director of rugby Dai Young tells BT Sport: "We are full of excitement. We have worked hard to be here and we want to enjoy it. We're hoping for a big start and to be in the game after 65 minutes and then the pressure is on Toulon."

Team news

Wasps welcome back England flanker James Haskell to a back row that will be missing number eight Nathan Hughes, who is suspended while he appeals against his three-week ban.

Andre Masi, Tom Varndell, Will Helu and Guy Thompson all come into a side which is missing the injured Christian Wade. Alex Lozowski stays at fly-half with the fit-again Andy Goode on the bench.

Toulon have the Armitage brothers - Delon and Steffon - at full-back and flanker respectively. Frederic Michalak starts at fly-half for the two-time defending champions, with Matt Giteau on the bench, while ex-Springbok Bakkies Botha and former All Black Ali Williams form a vastly experienced second row partnership for the French side.

Wasps winger Tom Varndell: The biggest game I've been involved in since being at Wasps. I can't wait for the challenge ahead.

Not long now, Tom. Just under 10 minutes to kick-off.

'Not much money riding on us'

This is the first time Wasps have made it as far as this in Europe's top competition since they won the Heineken Cup in 2007. Toulon, of course, have won the title for the past two seasons. "It's a two-horse race," says Wasps' director of rugby Dai Young. "But there's not going to be much money riding on us."

Is this the bus to Twickenham?

@alexspinkmirror

Daily Mirror rugby union correspondent Alex Spink: Nice touch by the bus company in Toulon. Wonder if Toulon will be so welcoming to Wasps. Suspect not.

Thanks Mike. If this game is half as gripping as Saracens' match then standby for a treat. We know the line-up of one semi-final - Saracens will face Clermont on 18 and 19 April. Can Wasps defy the odds and book a last four date with Leinster?

Ah, Wasps.

They face an Everest of a task now, travelling to Toulon - winners of the trophy in the last two years - in the last eight.

Mission Impossible? No, but Mission Highly Improbable.

Neil Johnston is here to text you though that one.

Wasps: Congratulations to Saracens on qualifying for the semi finals of the Champions Cup!

Saracens' Marcelo Bosch speaking to BT Sport: "I didn't want to force my kick, because it would not go so well. I just tried to feel as relaxed as I could. My kicking coach tells me to imagine I am on the beach and that is what I did."

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"Saracens rode their luck today. There's a possible 14 Racing points that never made it on the scoreboard. But Saracens stuck in and Racing never got away on the scoreboard."

Clermont were in the same pool as Saracens and won 18-6 in France.

They have lost only once at home all season and put 26 points on Racing, 46 points on Stade Francais, 18 points on Toulouse.

In short, it will be a different game from last season's 46-6 landslide for Saracens at Twickenham in the semi-finals.

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

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"Can you believe that? We said Saracens needed to take every point available. They haven't done that, they've survived on scraps. In the end a colossal error by Metro and Marcelo Bosch was as cool as you like into the teeth of a gale. He kicked it as though it was his last kick in practice."

AFP

It was not the most entertaining game, but you cannot beat that for a finish.

Saracens' travelling contingent are on the pitch to congratulate their team. They will travel away to play Clermont in the last four - a team they beat at home in last year's semi-finals.

Full-time

Penalty

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Hero. In a plot straight from the Hollywood script scrap-pile, Marcelo Bosch lands a monster - with space to spare - to book Saracens a place in the last four. Saracens mob the match-winning Argentine.

Penalty to Saracens! Marcelo Bosch to step up. This is all-or-nothing, death-or-glory from the Racing 10m line and a slight angle.

Racing Metro take an age over the set-piece. It is another minutes chewed off the clock by the time Maxine Machenaud finally spins it away from the base...

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"Saracens may not get more than one more chance now."

A forward pass from Chris Wyles to Marcelo Bosch in the centres. A basic error and it is Racing Metro with the ball and only two minutes to juice out of the clock.

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Maxime Machenaud almost away from Chris Ashton at one end, Maro Itoje charges up into the Metro 22m at the other.

Both defences stretched but no knockout blow registered. Play is back up on halfway and crucially Saracens are throwing into the line-out.

Mike Phillips on for Metro at scrum-half.

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

AFP

"Racing look absolutely exhausted. Saracens too are not able to get numbers around the corners. You just felt Saracens were starting to get on top but unfortunately there was a knock on."

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Turnover. Racing Metro steam into a breakdown on their own 10m line and referee Nigel Owens decides they have down enough and awards the scrum their way.

Saracens are walking the tightrope here. Neil de Kock drops a kick - but the ball falls backwards. David Strettle juggles - but hangs on in the tackle. They still have the ball and only have a few spells of possession left to score the three points they need.

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

AFP

"Saracens have to look after the ball when they get in the opposition half. They need a period of sustained pressure to enforce a mistake."

Penalty

The scrum heads south, Nigel Owens blows up, Maxine Machenaud steps up and suddenly it is Saracens who are playing catch-up rugby.

Ten minutes left and Charlie Hodgson might need to warm up that drop-goal routine.

Some horribly crossed wires in the Saracens line-out.

Schalk Brits strolls back in off the touchline to get a repeat of the call, but his fellow forwards have already started their lifting routine. He panics and lobs the ball in before he is back on the oche.

Scrum Metro.

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"The pressure is on Racing not to come up with an error. Throughout the game they have not been able to go three, four or five phases without making a mistake."

Racing Metro have not been able to build any concerted pressure since cutting the gap to one point.

A lot of that has been due to some canny play from Saracens, who have booted the ball long and well to keep play in the French side's half and tackled hard to prevent it coming back.

Replacement

Neil de Kock on for Richard Wigglesworth for the final 15 minutes at scrum-half for Saracens. The dynamic Maro Itoje has also been summoned into the fray for the visitors.

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Alex Goode, skipping like a young foal, bounds between a mob of Metro shirts and into the fresh air. A lovely slicing break but it is a little too good for his own team-mates and a lack of support means the danger dies away.

BBC Radio 5 live

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Former England fly-half Paul Grayson: "That was a wobbly old kick but the wind did its trick and it's worth three points. Saracens are hanging on. Saracens need to get the ball back. They have spent the last 15 minutes in their own half but they've only conceded three points."

Penalty

Suffocatingly tight now.

Just the one point in it as Maxine Machenaud makes good on a kick from just outside the 22m.

Twenty minutes to find a winner in amongst all this. This is what all the bleep tests and hours in the gym are for.

Overthrow! Saracens clean up the scraps at the back to regain possession. They were in a tight little corner there and that was a welcome mistake from Metro replacement Julien Brugnaut.

Referee Nigel Owens blasts his whistle to stop play. Good attentive officiating as well because Metro winger Juan Imhoff was out cold after copping a knee to the head from team-mate Johnny Sexton.

Imhoff heads off for a battery of tests as play restarts in the Saracens' half. And Metro have a line-out 10 metres short...

Some tremendous defensive work from Billy Vunipola as he bridges across the tackled man and refuses to budge under heavy fire, earning the turnover for Saracens.

BBC Radio 5 live

Former England fly-half Paul Grayson: "I can't believe that... two metres short of the line and a forward pass."

AFP

Saracens look like they have been cut to ribbons as Brice Dulin skips past Jim Hamilton on half-way and canters into space.

Some tremendous covering tackling from Charlie Hodsgon and Marcelo Bosch just about stem the bleeding in time though, forcing the knock-on and giving Saracens a scrum on their own 5m line.

By the way Jamie Roberts is off and former Northampton prop Brian Mujati is on as part of a raft of Metro changes. Schalk Brits is back after six months out for Saracens, replacing Jamie George at hooker.

Saracens squander a good position after that knock-on by Brice Dulin. Billy Vunipola's offload is a bit of a bullet and Richard Wigglesworth cannot take it into the breadbasket.

BBC Radio 5 live

AFP

Former England fly-half Paul Grayson: "One thing for certain is that Saracens need more points, they need to score again. But the longer this goes on the more Racing are going to have to force the game."

Mistakes are now pockmarking Racing Metro's play.

Johnny Sexton clumps the restart long, long and dead, before Brice Dulin spills forward as he attempts to claim the mark inside his own 22m.

The French bigspenders' cohesion and commitment is coming under the microscope now with some of the crowd having a grumble and groan.

Penalty

As Charlie Hodgson takes a moment to catch his breath, Alex Goode steps up to the kicking duties. He catches it clean as a whistle and Saracens's lead inches out to four.

Rip the tackling page out of the textbook. Wenceslas Lauret has just provided an update - chopping down Charlie Hodgson around the thighs, but Saracens have a penalty....

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Andrew Priestley: Saracens might rue those missed Charlie Hodgson penalties in the first half. Would a certain Owen Farrell have missed those kicks?

AFP

Racing Metro have a decent wrecking squad at work in the line-out. Saracens try to march a rolling maul on from the half-way line, but they are prised apart by some powerful Metro drivers.

Kick-off

I haven't seen that in a while. Johnny Sexton's kick-off is a little heavy, Marcelo Bosch claims under no pressure and pops it to David Strettle outside him who very nearly gets outside the chase and into the guts of the Metro half.

Just a stud into touch prevents Saracens applying some huge and early pressure...

Saracens huddle up in their dressing room as Mark McCall issues his final orders.

Then it is back out into the Paris spring air for the second half...

@waspsrugby

Meanwhile down south there is plenty of support for Wasps ahead of their game against Toulon.

A pocket of yellow on the Mediterranean coast. Still I'm sure it doesn't beat Coventry.

@waspsrugby

Saracens have been stretched out wide and smashed about around the fringes, but they have made the most of their visits to the Metro half.

Their advantage could have been even greater had Charlie Hodgson landed one of those two penalties he missed in quick succession in the midpoint of the half.

BBC

Former England centre Will Greenwood: One thing undeniable. Saracens unity of spirit and belief...

Half-time

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Penalty

And it is Saracens who head for the oranges in front.

A bit of a brainless one from Antonie Claassen as he hoofs the ball out of ruck after entering from the side.

This time Charlie Hodgson makes it stick with a perfect stick-splitter.

AFP

A little bit of wizardry from the boot of Alex Goode, grubbering inside for Chris Wyles, but the American can't claim an awkward bounce with the Metro line beckoning.

An entertaining end to the half.

That was close. Chris Ashton telegrams a pass out wide and Jamie Roberts very nearly intercepts to start a foot race for the Saracens line. The ball bobbles forward instead.

Rugby nowadays is now all muscle-bound gym monsters smashing into each other isn't it? Well, Brice Dulin is a player for those who like a little more subtlety with their rugby.

About 10 stones wringing wet, the Metro full-back claims a superb high ball over Mako Vunipola and then makes brother Billy look like he is wearing concrete-lined boots as he darts outside him.

BBC Radio 5 live

Former England fly-half Paul Grayson: "That's two misses by Charlie Hodgson now - both within his range. It looks like the wind has shifted because both kicks have moved 10 or 12 feet across the posts."

Missed penalty

Another chance off the tee, from almost the exact-same awkward spot, and Charlie Hodgson gets closer, but fails to land the three points.

It was mighty close and Hodgson suggests that Nigel Owens might like another look at that on the replay. A suggestion Owens declines.

That penalty was for Francois van der Merwe taking out a man in the air.

BBC Radio 5 live

Former England fly-half Paul Grayson: "Johnny Sexton has been receiving treatment on his knee for the last three minutes. He doesn't look comfortable at all. It would be a huge loss to Racing if he has to come off."

Missed penalty

Racing fly-half Johnny Sexton is fumbling around on the floor. It looks like Jacques Burger's charge did the damage, but replays show it was actually his team-mate Henry Chavancy's hand catching him in the eye as he tackled the Namibia international.

Charlie Hodgson misses a penalty for a later infringement and, during the break in play, Sexton sorts himself out and gets back up and running.

Champions Cup: Racing Metro have dominated the opening quarter, making 141 metres, 3 clean breaks and beating nine defenders.

BBC Radio 5 live

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Former England fly-half Paul Grayson: It just shows Racing have got ferocious power in the forward pack. If you make them play from their own half they are a far less dangerous outfit. Saracens need to think discipline, discipline, discipline."

Try

AFP

Saracens defence is battered into submission. The Racing line-out is beautifully efficient with the ball lobbed, caught and then driven to within striking range.

Scrum-half Maxime Machenaud then peels off the back - a whirlwind of pumping legs and thrusting hand-offs - to bustle over.

Johnny Sexton's conversion rebounds off the upright and away.

AP

Sin-bin

Jim Hamilton clings onto the ball despite being told to release and that is a one-way ticket to the sin-bin.

Racing have a line-out 10 metres out. They very nearly scored from this position earlier in the half.

All hands to the defensive pump for Saracens now...

BBC Radio 5 live

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Former England fly-half Paul Grayson: "There's always going to be a response from the French and you feel that Saracens need to get some points in this first half."

A quarter of the match done. Saracens playing it tight and clever.

Can they see this through to secure a place in the semi-finals?

Let me know via Twitter on #bbcrugby, text on 81111 and BBC Sport's Facebook page. Details under the Get Involved tab.

Saracens' hooker Jamie George is having his nostrils stuffed full of cotton wool. As play comes to a pause, it gives us a chance to admire the work of a watercolour artist who is capturing the scene from the touchline.

I'm pretty sure the same bloke does the same at the French Open tennis.

BBC Radio 5 live

Former England fly-half Paul Grayson: "You need a little bit of luck and earlier it was harder not to score than score for Racing Metro. Saracens are playing some smart stuff."

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Johnny Sexton sniffs a half-gap on the Saracens' 10m, and swerves inside. Jackson Wray is across superbly to take him to the floor though. And regain possession.

Richard Wigglesworth puts boot to ball and ease the pressure on Sarries. The visitors are under the cosh though.

Try review

They are definitely over.

But I think the Racing man in the middle of the rolling maul dropped the ball as he grounded under pressure from Jackson Wray...

Nigel Owens agrees and it is a scrum five for Saracens. Lots of Gallic shrugging and gesturing up in the Racing coaches' box.

Pressure on Saracens now though. Line-out for Metro just 10 metres out and it is safely claimed by the hosts....

AFP

Saracens' defensive line is coming flying up as if they haven't tasted meat all week.

They do enough, getting big in the face of Brice Dulin and ensuring that his patted flick-on drifts forwards on its way towards Teddy Thomas.

BBC Radio 5 live

Former England fly-half Paul Grayson: "Nigel Owens is an experienced official and he used the TMO. Teddy Thomas is a very powerful athlete and fell over far too easily after that collision."

AFP

Racings fans are whistling and jeering like only a Parisian crowd can.

Winger Teddy Thomas chipped over the top and seemed to be blocked off from chasing his own kick into the end zone by Alex Goode.

Goode was subtle enough though, turning his back and popping his hands up apologetically as he body-checked his man to escape punishment from Nigel Owens.

Streetwise stuff and it relieves some pressure on Saracens.

Metro number eight Antonie Claassen makes yards as the hosts rumble ominously.

But their momentum is checked as Nigel Owens spots one of his team-mates failing to join the back of a ruck.

Penalty

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Saracens have put some grunt into that. A very promising set-piece ends with the visitors going forwards, Metro prop Luc Ducalcon popped out of his bind and referee Nigel Owens with no choice.

He blows up for an obvious penalty and Charlie Hodgson ignores the jeers to slot from 35 metres-ish.

Oh! A little bit of joue from the French.

Johnny Sexton chips over the top of the Saracens defensive line from inside his own 22m line.

That champagne is corked though. An over-cooked kick is gobbled up by Alex Goode, before Metro centres Jamie Roberts and Henry Chavancy can put any real pressure on the catch.

BBC Radio 5 live

Former England fly-half Paul Grayson: "Saracens are coming back to form but they need to be neat and tidy and stay away from the set-piece. This is a small ground but Racing Metro have wads of cash and have packed their side with internationals. This is almost like a military operation for Saracens."

Kick-off

"If you don't understand me, what chance have they got?" Referee Nigel Owens pokes fun at thick-eared Charlie Hodgson before the Sarries fly-half boots long.

Brice Dulin gathers safely and Johnny Sexton takes play back up to halfway with a thumper of a kick. Billy Vunipola lost the flight of it in the low sun and had to abort his attempt to catch on the touchline...

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Andrew Priestley: Tough day for the English sides yesterday. Saracens are the best hope today, but Racing Metro can be unstoppable on their day.

Right, after a minute's applause for two late Racing stalwarts, time to get this one under way...

Out come the teams.

Dimitri Szarzewski sprints out at the front of the Racing queue.

Saracens' Richard Wigglesworth comes over all David Sole in 1990 and goes for a slow trudge.

Nigel Owens has got the whistle for this one.

"Rac-ing! Rac-ing! Rac-ing!"

The home crowd, with a little encouragement from a motor-mouth PA, get the vocal cords warmed up.

They have not seen their side beaten on home turf for five months.

Champions Cup: Johnny Sexton has never lost a knockout European Rugby game.

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Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall to BT Sport: "We have got some momentum going into this tie but today is a different kettle of fish. Intensity levels and physicality will go through the roof. People know there are not too many areas to exploit in this Racing Metro side. They have got some huge men to carry the ball."

Saracens have retreated back into away dressing room for their final instructions from coach Mark McCall.

I think an estate agent would describe Stade Yves du Manoir as "cosy, with development potential".

It is more than a little dog-eared round the edges and a world away from the shiny Allianz Park that Saracens call home.

Racing's headquarters was also used to film scenes for the film Escape to Victory though. Sylvester Stallone and Pele are yet to make an appearance in Barnet.

@waspsrugby

While the atmosphere ramps up in the Stade Yves Du Manoir, over at Stade Mayol the scene is set for defending champions Toulon's meeting with Wasps.

Live coverage of that one follows hot on the heels of Racing Metro v Saracens...

Saracens flanker Jacques Burger: Let's go to work...

Champions Cup: Saracens have won just two of their last eight away trips to France - but both of those victories came against Racing Metro. Omen?

Team news

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England scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth captains Saracens, with normal captain Alistair Hargreaves injured. Hargreaves is replaced by Scotland's Jim Hamilton in the second row, with Petrus du Plessis back at tight-head. Hooker Schalk Brits makes his return on the bench, alongside hugely promising lock-cum-flanker Maro Itoje.

Saracens: Goode, Ashton, Bosch, Wyles, Strettle, Hodgson, Wigglesworth, M Vunipola, George, du Plessis, Kruis, Hamilton, Wray, Burger, B Vunipola.

Replacements: Brits, Gill, Johnston, Itoje, Brown, Hankin, de Kock, Tompkins.

Team news

Racing Metro field Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton, Wales centre Jamie Roberts and Wales lock Luke Charteris. A third Wales international, Mike Phillips, is among the replacements alongside former Northampton prop Brian Mujati.

Racing Metro: Dulin, Imhoff, Chavancy, Roberts, Thomas, Sexton, Machenaud, Arous, Szarzewski, Ducalcon, Charteris, Van der Merwe, Lauret, Gerondeau, Claassen.

Replacements: Lacombe, Brugnaut, Mujati, Metz, Dubarry, Phillips, Goosen, Dumoulin.

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Owner Jack Lorenzetti has splashed out a reported £790,000 a year to bring Dan Carter to Racing Metro after the World Cup.

He has plenty of other expensive imports in his toybox already.

And in honour of the British visitors he has dusted off some of his signings from the other side of the Channel.

Time for some team news...

@Saracens

Blue skies above Paris as the Saracens players take a walk on the pitch. Just under half an hour to kick-off. Can Sarries do what Bath and Northampton failed to do?

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It was a bad day for the two clubs from England in the Champions Cup on Saturday as Bath and Northampton Saints were both eliminated by Leinster and Clermont Auvergne respectively.

It was particularly painful for Northampton who suffered a 37-5 thumping in France. At least one Saints player was able to retain a sense of humour despite the result.

Northampton flanker Tom Wood tweeted: Thanks to Clermont for inviting us to their open training session today. We've left our non contact bibs in the changing rooms.

Get involved #bbcrugby

Twitter, Facebook, postcards, semaphore.

We'd love your messages in today's live.

And given how Clermont Auvergne, second in the Top 14, eviscerated Northampton, top of the Premiership, yesterday, we are asking would a rise in the salary cap be a good thing for English top-flight rugby?

Or are we better keeping things on a more even footing?

Your answers via #bbcrugby,81111 on text and the BBC Sport Facebook page.

Radio, radio

BBC Radio 5 live

Want to listen to full commentary from today's two quarter-finals? Not a problem. The BBC has commentary teams in position at both ties in France.

Listen to Racing Metro against Saracens on BBC Radio 5 live from 12:45 BST, while Toulon against Wasps (15:15 BST) is on BBC Coventry and Warwickshire. Just click the 'Live Coverage' tab above.

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Saracens have been inching incrementally closer to European club rugby's biggest prize over the past four campaigns.

If they are going to make the last four in 2015 though, never mind finally lift the trophy, they are going to have to buck a losing trend for English teams.

After Northampton and Bath both came to grief away in their European Champions Cup quarter-finals yesterday, Sarries head to Paris to face big-spending Racing Metro.

Kick-off is just 40 minutes away.

Saracens' sequence

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Group stages in 2010-11.

Quarter-finals in 2011-12.

Semi-finals in 2012-13.

Runners-up in 2013-14.

Winners in 2014-15?