Finn Russell can do the donkey work as well and the fancy dan bits. The Racing fly-half buries opposite number Alex Goode with a big hit. Saracens are not making headway. Up goes the up and under. Simon Zebo claims. But Camille Chat knocks on a simple pop pass from the base...

Racing are racking up the mistakes.

Matt Dawson
England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

Saracens are pressing so hard from their kick-chase. There is a good theme here and they just need to keep it going. The pressure points just build on Racing.

Teddy Thomas is getting neckache. The Racing 92 wing is spending more time staring skyward than an airshow audience thanks to Richard Wigglesworth's barrage of box-kicks.

He is not dealing with it very well when the bombs land though.

A knock-on deep in his own half puts Racing under pressure once more.

Well, that didn't last long.

Vincent Koch is not supporting his own bodyweight as he clamps down over the breakdown. Spot on Nigel Owens.

Teddy Iribaren steps up and slaps the ball sweet off his instep.

Level pegs once more.

Alex Goode lands his kick at goal to put Saracens ahead for the first time....

Interception!

Teddy Iribaren lunges out of the defensive line to pouch the ball! Is there space out wide? Through the hands. Vakatawa to Thomas. But Sean Maitland with a superb cover tackle, then springs to his feet and is onto the ball in flash.

Thomas is not releasing and Nigel Owens is peeping...

Matt Dawson
England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

You just feel there have been some messages coming on to the Saracens kickers. Just nudge it on. Get Zebo to turn and scoop the ball up. There is a dodgy bounce on this artificial pitch.

Oh Simon Zebo! And not in a good way.

Elliot Daly pokes a tumbling grubber kick into the Racing 92 22m. There is not much of a chase and plenty of time to defuse the danger.

But Zebo fumbles forwards to give Saracens the scrum and put his own side in a world of trouble...

Matt Dawson
England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

I've got a feeling that both these sides will be thankful that the final is not next week.

Racing and Saracens have had heavyweight battles and what we are seeing is a little bit of fall out from the intensity last week in those matches against Clermont Auvergne and Leinster.

He could have backheeled that one over.

Scores level. First quarter done.

Matt Dawson
England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

It's the semi-finals. Take the points. Three points are vital. You don't want to be risking it and going away with nothing.

Image source, Getty Images

Billy Vunipola picks and goes, but is hauled down sharply by the Racing defence.

A French infringement - number eight Antonie Classen going to ground too easily.

And Saracens are going to take the gimme three points from straight in front and 10m out...

Tim Swinson has had to swap his slippers. His usual boots apparently not taking to shiny artificial surface in the La Defense Arena.

Saracens with an important scrum coming up, five metres out from the Racing line with the ball in Richard Wigglesworth's hands...

Matt Dawson
England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

How deep is the well? All these players have played a lot of rugby over the last few weeks. It takes it toll, the physicality that Racing bring to the game, so the benches will be vital.

Mako and Billy Vunipola interchange nicely on a tag-team rumble. Racing's defence in retreat. But then a combination of Camille Chat and Wenceslas Lauret turn the ball over to check Saracens momentum.

It is tight as piano wire out there. Nothing to chose between the two teams. Neither getting the upper hand consistently.

Saracens are forced into an early change as Duncan Taylor goes down with a shoulder problem. He picked it up as he nudged into Virimi Vakatawa.

Dom Morris is off the bench for the visitors.

Matt Dawson
England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

Zebo and Vakatawa seem to have this sixth sense at the moment. Lovely lines of running, pot passes and offloads out of the tackle. You can see they thrive on each others ability to break out of the tackle and support.

That is a real danger in the outside centre area which is such a tough place to defend.

The distance was good, the direction just off kilter.

Saracens remain three points down.

Saracens are suffering under Nigel Owens whistle here.

Jamie George is the guilty part at the ruck, struggling to get a handle on new interpretations introduced in April.

A long-range penalty shot for Teddy Iribaren coming up...

The Racing scrum-half has a kick on him like an irritable mule.

The ball flies deep, long and good.