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Northampton Saints backs coach Alan Dickens is certain familiar foes Castres will be a different animal at their Stade Pierre Antoine home. - 20/10/2016 10:44
Northampton Saints backs coach Alan Dickens is certain familiar foes Castres will be a different animal at their Stade Pierre Antoine home.
The Anglo-French rivals know each other well having met in the Champions Cup pool stages in three successive seasons from 2011. The home side has emerged triumphant in each of the six fixtures – a record the Saints are hoping to put right on Saturday.
Northampton have already beaten French opposition in round one thanks to Stephen Myler’s last ditch penalty, which gave them a vital 16-14 triumph over Montpellier. And they could have England captain Dylan Hartley back in their ranks for the round two clash against a Castres side reeling from their opening defeat at Leinster.
“Dylan has trained fully this week, it's just dependent on how he reacts,” said Saints backs coach Alan Dickens. “He's there or thereabouts.
“Saturday was an opportunity to kickstart our season and campaign in Europe, and thankfully Stephen Myler kicked the penalty for the win. It’s about the fourth time we've been drawn with Castres and we know the challenges that await.
“They have a quality scrum-half in Rory Kockott, they are a different side at home. We are under no illusions about how difficult it will be to get a result in Castres, but that’s what we’re going to do.”
Castres conceded five tries in their 33-15 defeat at the RDS. The former TOP14 champions have also faced ASM Clermont Auvergne, Montpellier and Racing 92 in the last four weeks, and head coach Christophe Urios wants their home support to give them a vital lift.
He said: “It is a great pleasure to get back to familiar surroundings on Saturday, and playing in front of our fans, our friends and our families. We rely on our great support to push us on. After three big games, the bodies are beginning to tire. Public support is valuable, perhaps even more than usual!
“The defeat at Leinster will allow us to discover things about the team and grow. There are many players in the team who played for the first time in the Champions Cup. We must now continue to erase our mistakes and keep moving forward.
“We must be more demanding individually and remember that our collective is sacred. We are on the right track. So this game against the Saints is already capital if we want to stay alive in the competition.”
Match facts
- This will be the ninth meeting between the clubs in the European Cup. Northampton have won five and Castres have won three.
- The last six games have all been won by the home side on the day, with Castres and Saints each winning three games apiece in that run.
- Castres have lost their last five games against Premiership opposition in the tournament, although their last win against an English club was against Northampton in 2013.
- Northampton have won just three of 18 games in France in the European Cup (L15), losing on their last six trips across the Channel.
- Saints are aiming to win back to back games against TOP 14 opposition for the first time since 2010/2011 when they run won four on the bounce.
Castres Olympique turned on the style to sweep aside Northampton Saints with a bonus-point win at Stade Pierre Antoine. - 22/10/2016 17:27
Castres Olympique turned on the style to sweep aside Northampton Saints with a bonus-point win at Stade Pierre Antoine.
These Anglo-French rivals know each other well having met in the European Rugby Champions Cup pool stages in three successive seasons from 2011.
And Castres made sure they responded to defeat at Leinster last week by maintain home success in this fixture with five tries as David Smith (twice), Antoine Tichit, Alexandre Bias and Antoine Dupont all crossed to inflict a record defeat on Saints. Their 34 point winning margin overtook the 33 Northampton had lost by against Montferrand (2001/02) and Leinster (2013/14).
It was a painful return back to earth for Saints, despite the return of England captain Dylan Hartley, following their last-gasp win over Montpellier last week as a late James Wilson try was all they could muster.
Castres’ pack issued an early statement of intent with a powerful scrum and Benjamin Urdapilleta, stepped on the line by a wonderful George North tackle, swept over two kicks.
Louis Picamoles was denied a try on 19 minutes and Castres lock key-man Rory Kockett to a yellow card soon after. But Saints could not capitalise and No8 Alex Tolou was the inspiration as the hosts burst clear to lead 20-0 at half-time.
Toulou made a series of bursts before setting up winger Smith for his first on 30 minutes. Kockett returned from the sin bin and his burst up field, halted by Ben Foden, ended with prop Tichit crashing over.
Jim Mallinder’s half-time team talk failed to halt the hosts as Robert Ebersohn’s clever run drew in defenders and opened space for Smith to grab his second and Urdapilleta’s conversion opened a 27-0 lead just three minutes into the second half.
Saints steadied the ship and finally registered on the scoreboard seven minutes from time through Wilson after Rory Hutchinson and Paul Hill combined.
But Castres were desperate for the bonus and struck twice in the final six minutes as Smith turned provider for Bias before replacement scrum-half Dupont raced clear.
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