How Racing 92's back line could line up during the 2018/19 season
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Racing 92 have wasted no time in recruiting replacements for 2 time World Cup winning flyhalf Dan Carter.
The Paris-based side already has Pat Lambie who has reignited his career at the club after multiple injuries while they have also signed Scotland and British and Irish Lions flyhalf Finn Russell.
But with two world-class first fives at the club how will they fit them into the side?
15. Brice Dulin
Dulin has been solid at the back for Racing and is on the fringes of the France national side and is not far behind Scott Spedding and Nans Duling in that regard.
He could, however, see a positional switch next season if Lambie is moved to fullback, a position which the South African is very comfortable doing having represented his former side the Sharks and his country on multiple occasions.
14. Virimi Vakatawa
Racing has plenty of depth on the wings with the likes of Imhoff, Thomas Rococoko and Louis Dupichot all vying for a starting position, but the Fijian born flyer is likely to get the nod.
13. Henry Chavancy
Chavancy is likely to be the go to man in the Racing midfield next season.
His recent form has kept him in the French national team and if he continues to perform it will be difficult for others to replace him.
Joe Rococoko could rival the 29-year-old in the position having played there while Chavancy was on international duty.
12. Pat Lambie
The growing trend in world rugby at the moment is a playmaker at inside centre and this trend will be nothing new to Racing having played Johan Goosen, Dan Carter and Remi Tales in the position in recent times.
Lambie is a versatile player and could be used in the position with Russell and Tales running the show at 10.
The South African has played in the position on occasion and the 2018/19 season could see him become more accustomed to the position.
He won't go unchallenged in the position with Anthony Tuitavake, Albert Vulivuli and Henry Chavancy and potentially Finn Russell who are all quality options in the position.
11. Teddy Thomas
As mentioned before Racing have some incredible depth out wide and it's difficult to predict who they could start on either wing but on current form Teddy Thomas seems to be the way forward for the club.
The winger is starting to make his presence known in the national squad and could bring that form into the Racing backline.
10. Finn Russell
The new acquisition has already been tipped to replace Dan Carter as the general of the Racing backline and having played 35 Test caps for Scotland and represented the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand Russell seems to be the front-runner for the no.10 jersey in Paris.
Like most of the positions in the Racing backline, he will not go unrivalled for the starting jumper with Pat Lambie having made a fine start to his career in France and veteran playmaker Remi Tales still proving to be a real asset to the Racing backline.
9. Maxime Machenaud
Machenaud is still seen as Racing's no.1 scrumhalf with his brilliant ability to control the game and his accurate goal kicking.
The 28-year-old may have fell down the pecking order with the national side but could reclaim his spot in the squad with his new halfback partners.
Potential starting XV:
9. Machenaud
10. Russell
11. Thomas
12. Lambie
13. Chavancy
14. Vakatawa
15. Dulin