Investec Champions Cup: England's Arundell starts at full-back against Harlequins
Written by I Dig SportsEngland wing Henry Arundell will start at full-back for Racing 92 when they host Harlequins on Sunday in their opening Investec Champions Cup game.
The 21-year-old scored a hat-trick on his debut in a 31-26 defeat at Toulon after joining following the demise of London Irish.
Harlequins make only one change for the trip to Paris after thrashing Sale Sharks last week.
Prop Will Collier is ruled out through injury and is replaced by Dillon Lewis.
South Africa's double World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi, who like Arundell joined the French club after the World Cup in France, starts at flanker.
Arundell, whose debut hat-trick came almost four weeks ago, has scored four tries in his first three games for his new club, playing at both wing and full-back.
Racing are leaders of the Top 14 having won six of their opening nine games, and they beat Quins 30-29 when the sides met in the Champions Cup last season in Paris.
"We had two great battles against Racing last season. They're an extremely strong side who have started the season in good form," Harlequins director of rugby Billy Millard said.
Quins were 14-10 winners at home in last season's other game between the teams.
"It's going to be a great challenge for our boys," Millard said, "but we're excited to get over to Paris on Sunday and put in a big performance."
Marcus Smith starts at fly-half for Harlequins and will be keen to impress England coach Steve Borthwick after Owen Farrell's announcement last week that he would be unavailable for the 2024 Six Nations as he looks after his and his family's mental wellbeing.
Harlequins also play Toulouse, Ulster and Cardiff in Pool Two.
Line-ups
Racing: Arundell; Habosi, Fickou, Saili, Imhoff; Gibert, Le Garrec; Gogichashvili, Chat, Nyakane, Palu, Woki, Diallo, Kolisi, Lauret.
Replacements: Tarrit, Arous, Laclayat, Chouzenoux, Joseph, Le Bail, Tedder, Chavancy.
Harlequins: Green; David, Joseph, Esterhuizen, Murley; Smith, Care; Marler, Riley, Lewis, Launchbury, Lamb, Cunningham-South, W Evans, Dombrandt (capt).
Replacements: Walker, Baxter, Kerrod, Herbst, Chisholm, Porter, J Evans, Beard.
Referee: Frank Murphy