London Irish will look to complete a Heineken Cup win double over Racing Métro when the Paris side arrive at Madejski Stadium on Saturday.
Paul Hodgson will lead the Exiles out to celebrate his 200th game for the Aviva Premiership club.
Tom Homer has been named on the wing for the crucial reverse fixture. Homer is one of three personnel changes from last Saturday's victory in Paris. Adrian Jarvis will start at fly-half alongside Darren Allinson and Jamie Gibson comes in at openside with Ofisa Treviranus moving to eight.
"It was fantastic to win away at Racing Metro last week. We proved that we can compete at the top level in Europe away from home," said London Irish head coach Toby Booth.
"We're still very much in this tournament and fighting for our place. It is important we capitalise on last week's game and make tomorrow count."
Meanwhile, Racing have handed starts to Julien Saubade, Jonathan Wisniewski, Nicolas Durand, Sebastien Chabal, Alvaro Galindo, Remi Vaquiin, Francois van der Merwe and Santiago Dellape as they make several changes from last week's 14-34 negative in Paris.
The teams:
London Irish: 15 Delon Armitage, 14 Tom Homer, 13 Joe Ansbro, 12 Jonathan Spratt, 11 Adam Thompstone, 10 Adrian Jarvis, 9 Darren Allinson, 8 Ofisa Treviranus, 7 Jamie Gibson, 6 Declan Danaher, 5 Matthew Garvey, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 Paulica Ion, 2 David Paice, 1 Clarke Dermody.
Replacements: 16 Brian Blaney, 17 Max Lahiff, 18 Faan Rautenbach, 19 Bob Casey, 20 Richard Thorpe, 21 Topsy Ojo, 22 Shontayne Hape, 23 Paul Hodgson.
Racing Métro 92: 15 Gaetan Germain, 14 Julien Saubade, 13 Virimi Vakatawa, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Sereli Bobo, 10 Jonathan Wisniewski, 9 Nicolas Durand, 8 Sebastien Chabal, 7 Alvaro Galindo, 6 Remi Vaquiin, 5 Francois van der Merwe, 4 Santiago Dellape, 3 Juan Pablo Orlandi, 2 Thomas Bianchin, 1 Julien Brugnaut.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Noirot, 17 Mikaele Tuugahala, 18 Johannes Coetzee, 19 Jone Qovu Nailiko, 20 Sebastien Descons, 21 Juan Martin Hernandez, 22 Bernard Le Roux, 23 Karim Ghezal.
Date: Saturday, December 17
Venue: Madejski Stadium, Reading
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Referee: John Lacey
Comments
damo says...
I was right and you were wrong :), Hernandez was class and could be again but they must just leave him potter around he needs a kick in the ehem to get him back to his best as he is far from past it
Posted 23:06 18th December 2011
twotone says...
Such a shame the top14 is more important to a lot of French sides. I think Racing will be a no-show today and Irish will get a bonus point win.
I was at the game last week and for the life of me cant understand why Racing insists on playing Hernandez. When Wisniewski came on the whole attacking dynamic changed only for him to be replaced by Hernandez 15 minutes later. I guess they figure that because they've forked over a considerable amount of money for Hernandez, and he's been injured for most of the time, they have to get their money's worth. I just don't get it.
Posted 09:35 17th December 2011
damo says...
Racing have their A team playing, strange that. Hope London Irish beat them as they aren't a club you can have much respect for but they have quality in their ranks can't see Irish covering a 9 point handicap unless Racing let them win like the edinbrough game
Posted 01:23 17th December 2011