Masoe back for Racing as Top 14 seeks style boost
Veteran All Blacks No8 Chris Masoe was named in the Racing 92 team to face Clermont in the French Top 14 semi-finals on Friday.
The 37-year-old forward missed last week's 21-16 play-off win over Toulouse with a shoulder injury but returns to tackle the team who finished top of the table in the regular season.
Antonie Claassen drops to the bench while Masoe packs down alongside Yannick Nyanga and Wenceslas Lauret in the back row.
The return of Masoe is the only change to last week's side where compatriot Dan Carter kicked six successful penalties.
That win over Toulouse, as well as Montpellier's victory against Castres, did little, however, for the purists' enjoyment of the game as boot and brawn dominated.
"What interests me is the game that gives Racing a win. It's always easy to say that it is too restrictive," said Racing forwards coach Laurent Travers.
On whether Racing will employ similar tactics on Friday against a team they defeated twice in the regular season, Travers snapped: "I will tell you after the game."
The Parisian side will be playing in their third semi-final since their return to the top flight in 2009.
Clermont have recovered well from their European Cup exit in January, finishing on top of the standings on 88 points. Racing were seven points behind in fourth.
Clermont are almost at full strength with only hooker Benjamin Kayser and winger Adrian Plante sidelined.
The combination of full-back Scott Spedding and wing duo David Strettle and Nick Abendanon will be key to breaking the Racing defences.
But they will also be wary of their recent history in the knockout rounds.
Clermont have made nine appearances in the semi-finals since 2007 but only once -- in 2010 -- have they gone on to win the title.