A calm as a monastery in the Saracens dressing room as the English side come in and quietly go about swapping their sodden shirts for fresh ones.

Mark McCall lurks, waiting for his team to settle before issuing his bullet points for the second half.

Matt Dawson
2003 World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 live

"I don't think a decision needs to be made yet (on whether to substitute Dan Carter). They will assess it at half-time and he will have a chat with someone like Ronan O'Gara, who will ask him how he is seeing the game.

"I think Carter needs to get involved, get closer to Mike Phillips, get his hands on the ball and dictate play. We have hardly seen him in attack, at the moment he is no threat and Saracens will be loving it."

Image source, Getty Images

It is only six points, but it does feel like Racing are being squeezed by the Saracens constrictor.

A couple of times the French side have got the juggernaut forwards thundering up around the fringes and made dents in the Sarries' defence.

But those big lads might not have the same energy come 60 minutes.

If Saracens can keep their noses in front until then, there is no team better at snuffing out opposition with sheer percentage rugby.

Paul Grayson
Ex-England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"Dan Carter is not 100% fit, he has not taken on primary kicking responsibilities from the tee. He has had as many negative impacts on the game as positive ones and that is not on his call sheet."

A good kick from Brice Dulin puts Saracens back into their own 22m.

But Nigel Owens tells the players that the next play is the last of the half and Sarries shut down the danger.

Brits to Kruis to Wigglesworth to touchline.

Paul Grayson
Ex-England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"What a crucial kick by Owen Farrell, if they can hold that lead at half-time, it will do great things psychologically for Saracens."

 A skewed scrum and Nigel Owens decides that Racing's front row are deliberately wheeling it round.

This is a wood rather than iron, but Owen Farrell has distance to spare and he slides over a kick to reinflate the cushion to six points. 

Image source, .

Who will get the pot of gold at the end of the match?

Not many people can shut up Chris Ashton.

Nigel Owens though is one of them. The referee tells Ashton that his appeals for knock-ons are not making officiating the match any easier and the Saracens wing is all apologies.

Matt Dawson
2003 World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Getty Images

"It's fast it's furious, but all the play is either side of the ruck. Saracens are making so many tackles. I can't work out what Racing are trying to do apart form pick and go around the fringes."

Johan Goosen takes over the tee duties with Maxime Machenaud off injured and Dan Carter nursing his knee.

Carter watches on as the South African sticks over a regulation kick and it's back to three points. No room for error from either side.

Saracens' Wolfpack defence was a little too eager there, jumping the gun as they got pushed back towards their own line and getting a little twitchy.

This is bang in front.

Racing are rumbling.

Big, clanking forward runners are battering holes around the fringe and they are up into the Saracens 22m.

There she blows.

Owen Farrell clips it over the top and Schalk Brits is back on in place of Jamie George after his head assessment.

Image source, Getty Images

Crafty from Maro Itoje who sticks a boot around the side to poke the ball out of ruck when Racing scrum-half Mike Phillips was looking the wrong way.

Turnover ball on the Racing 22m.

Owen Farrell grubbers though the middle, Chris Ashton hares after it, the Racing defence is at full stretch, but the ball beats them all, running over the dead-ball line.

No matter. Nigel Owens has spotted an infringement and we are going back for a gimme of a penalty for the Premiership leaders.

Paul Grayson
Ex-England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"Just look at Chris Ashton, he is prowling all over the pitch. There is a clear tactic by Saracens to put the ball behind Racing."

Mike Phillips is upgraded from cameo to full fixture at scrum-half as Maxime Machenaud fails a head test and is sent to sit this one out on the Racing bench.

George Kruis allows the restart to squirm out of his grasp and Saracens are immediately under the cosh.

A deft little kick in behind from Dan Carter is intended for Juan Imhoff, but Richard Wigglesworth has read that one from the get-go and covers back to dot down first.

Twenty-two drop-out.