Michael Bradley anticipates massive physical challenge against Sebastien Chabal and Co as his squad seek to build on Irish victory

The French back row was this week informed that he had passed his refereeing exams and will now be put in charge of eight youth matches, all as part of his punishment from the French rugby authorities for describing referees as “insane” in his autobiography.

However, the 33-year-old, nicknamed Sea Bass, is keen to revive his club’s interest in the Heineken Cup after the star-studded Racing side lost at home to Cardiff.

Edinburgh, on the other hand claimed a one-point win away to London Irish in the opening round of European matches last weekend.

That was Edinburgh’s first win in the tournament’s opening match since they edged Wasps 32-31 in 2005-6, and the first time they have ever started with an away victory.

The last time Edinburgh managed to back up a first day win was in 2003-4, when they went on to qualify for the quarter-finals for the only time in the competition’s history so far. Murrayfield coach Bradley has been keen to temper expectations, but he acknowledged: “It was a very good start. It was a tough game and was always going to be and we said afterwards that either side could have won it.

“And then we were back in on Monday and there is the realisation that we have Racing Metro here who lost their first match.

“All coaches in this group have been consistent in saying that there are no clear favourites and anyone can beat anyone home or away, so that’s the reality of the business we’re in.

“But facing Racing Metro having beaten London Irish is better than facing them having not beaten London Irish.”

From the Racing team that trained yesterday, it appears that Chabal is one of eight changes to the side from the one which went down 26-20 to the Blues. Up front Italian prop Andrea lo Cicero is injured, the tighthead Juan Pablo Orlandi drops to the bench, former France skipper Lionel Nallet returns in the second row and Chabal is in for Springbok Jacques Cronje at No 8.

In the backs, veteran Fijian winger Sireli Bobo did not run with the team yesterday. The half-backs Juan Martin Hernandez of Argentina and Mathieu Loree remain but the only others to hold their places are Henry Chavancy, a talented young centre, and last week’s try-scorer Juan Imhoff. The Top 14’s top points-scorer Jonathan Wisniewski – who has averaged over 14 points per game this season – starts in the full-back position.

It could be a stronger side to last week’s overall, but Bradley does not read too much into the French penchant for radically altering their teams for away games and expects a very different challenge to that of London Irish.

“They are a seriously big side. They’re just huge,” he added. “The London Irish guys are very physical but they’re leaner. Racing will be looking for lineouts, mauls and really drill the scrums. They don’t have an aggressive defensive system like London Irish, so there are huge changes in terms of style of play.

“The scrum is a key facet of the game and we have to be able to compete for the full 80 minutes. As a coach in European competition I have found this match very difficult because they might not bring one or two star players, but unfortunately for us the guys who back them up are all internationalists anyway.

“Racing Metro had a good season last year in the domestic league but didn’t follow through in the play-offs.

“So they would see this as a means to put a stamp on their progress as a side and, all of a sudden, they lost at home to Cardiff, which they won’t be happy with. This is going to be a massive ask of us but we have the advantage of playing at home.”