Given the presence of a Munster contingent within the ranks of the Racing 92 squad, there will be Irish interest in the Heineken Champions Cup final despite the absence of the provinces.

Simon Zebo and Donnacha Ryan were at the heart of the action on Saturday as they helped Racing to book a place in the 17 October decider against Exeter Chiefs and the former Munster duo, who have not been selected for Ireland since making their moves to France, joined their former team-mate Donncha O'Callaghan on RTÉ 2fm's Game On to look ahead to their involvement in the European final.

Both were full of praise for Racing 92 backs coach and former Munster scrum-half Mike Prendergast.

"He's having a huge impact. He's been fantastic for us," said Zebo.

"He's brought a different outlook on the game and a real positive attitude into camp and all the players have really backed him and got in behind him and love his approach to the game and playing in his system.

"It's very much a 'go out there and express yourself' within the framework that he gives you. It fits perfectly with the personnel that we have at Racing and suits us down to the ground and he's added to our team tenfold. Hopefully he stays as long as possible."

The full back added that Prendergast has been giving most of his instructions in French, with a translation in English for those who do not speak fluently - with Ryan adding that his own improvement with the language has been a boost as he forges tighter bonds with team-mates.

Mike Prendergast

Ryan also suggested that Prendergast's fingerprints could also be noted in Juan Imhoff's outstanding late try that helped Racing overcome Saracens on Saturday.

"As Zeebs said about Mike, he allows us the freedom in training to make mistakes and do those things," said the second row.

"His coaching, if you actually go back to that clip, two rucks before Juan Imhoff starts, that's actually what Mike Prendergast does actually and he's educating lads to do that extra effort. If you look back at where Juan starts and not where he finishes, it's an even more impressive try."

Zebo also praised Racing's 10 Finn Russell for his instrumental role in that game changing moment.

"It was just off the cuff. I think Finn said Virimi [Vakatawa] had called it quite late and that's credit to Virimi for seeing the space and having the acceleration to get onto it," he said.

"I think the trust Finn has in the players outside him, just to be able to hear the call immediately and drop it on the toe without even looking, is just fantastic."

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