THE RACING METRO dream team is slowly, but surely, becoming true.

While Ireland’s centrally contracted players are still at a relatively early stage of pre-season training, the Top 14 is entering its second weekend of action.

Wales and Lions centre Jamie Roberts will tomorrow make his Top 14 debut as his new club Racing Metro head for the south coast to take on European Champions Toulon.

Jonathan Sexton will once again start at number 10, despite having a mixed day off the kicking tee in his competitive debut last weekend.

In open play, Sexton was sharp enough to set his new side up for a 19-14 win with an early cross-field kick to put Benjamin Lapeyre in for an early try. This week, however, he will know his ratio must rapidly improve if he is to come out on top against the metronomic Jonny Wilkinson.

Dan Lydiate is not included in the squad, but the Paris club will boast an impressive front row of Soane Tonga’uiha, Dimitri Szarzewski and Brian Mujati to combat the Top 14 runners up three;  Carl Hayman,  Benjamin Noirot and Andrew Sheridan.

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