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Wasps take on Castre on Sunday desperate to give their European Rugby Champions Cup campaign lift-off against the Top 14's bottom side. - 05/12/2014 15:30
Wasps take on Castre on Sunday desperate to give their European Rugby Champions Cup campaign lift-off against the Top 14’s bottom side.
Both teams are yet to claim their first victory in pool two of Europe’s top-tier tournament but something has to give when they meet at Stade Pierre Antoine.
And Varndell is confident his men will be the side to claim their first victory after defeats to Harlequins and Leinster, and their recent record in France support his prediction.
He said: “It's nice to get away in Europe as it's always a good experience. These games have definitely come at a good time but with two defeats so far these next two are crucial.
“Over the last few seasons our record against French teams has been very good and it'll be good to go out their first to see what they're like before we host them back here. It's still tight in the pool but we have to win our remaining games to stand a chance and not rely on anyone else.”
Varndell starts on the wing for Wasps, who are just two weeks away from moving into their new Coventry home at the Ricoh Arena. He will face All Blacks try machine Sitiveni Sivivatu, who starts in a strong Castre side also featuring recently France qualified scrum-half Rory Kockott.
Wasps have the better of the head-to-head record in European competition with three wins to Castre’s one. But Varndell is wary of what the French side can do on when it all comes together.
He said: “Castres have got a great pack but also some strong finishers like Sivivatu and even Max Evans, who is a tried and tested international.
“They might be having a tough season but like all French sides they can be fantastic on their day and not the next. We know if we play the way we can then we will score tries but first and foremost we need to make sure of the win.”
Match Facts
- These two sides have met on four previous occasions in the Champions Cup; Castres Olympique won the last meeting between the sides, however Wasps were victorious in the previous three before that.
- Three of the four meetings between the sides has seen a winning margin of less than seven points.
- Joe Launchbury has made 33 tackles in the Champions Cup this season with only Magnus Lund making more than the Wasps second row.
- Alapati Leiua (13.1m) has the highest average gain per carry of any player ( 10+ carries) in the Champions Cup this season.
Le Castres Olympique n'aura pas grand chose à gagner lors de son déplacement sur la pelouse des Wasps. Les Anglais ont eux beaucoup à perdre lors du dernier match de leur histoire à l'Adams Park. - 14/12/2014 13:04
Wasps kept their European Champions Cup Pool 2 hopes alive with a stunning 32-17 bonus-point win at Castres.
Rob Miller, Nathan Hughes, a penalty try and a fine Sailosi Tagicakibau finish gave the visitors their first win in the pool, with Andy Goode adding 12 points with the boot. Hooker Mathieu Bonello and centre Remi Lamerat got Castres tries as they suffered a third-straight defeat, with Rory Kockott and Julien Dumora kicking their other points.
With both side desperate for victory the game started at a ferocious pace, and there were three tries inside the opening dozen minutes. Wasps were the first to strike. Goode picked off a loose pass in midfield and the ball was worked wide to Tom Varndell.
The winger put boot to ball and Miller swooped to get over the line, with Goode converting. Castres' response was emphatic. New Zealand international Sitiveni Sivivatu sparked a break from deep with a neat exchange of passes and only desperate defence prevented Kockott getting over in the corner.
When the ball was recycled hooker Bonello barrelled through two tacklers to score with Kockott adding the extras. Back came Wasps; swift hands from Ashley Johnson freed number eight Hughes on the outside to piledrive through three attempted tackles and get in at the corner.
After a furious start the game started to settle down, but Kockott failed to reward a positive period of Castres pressure by missing two penalty attempts, the first of which struck the crossbar and stayed out. Goode made no such error when a strong Wasps scrum gave him a three-point opportunity of his own to put the two-time European champions eight points to the good.
The see-saw nature of the contest continued as the hosts found their way back into the game six minutes before the break. A powerful driving maul, including most of the Castres back division, ended with centre Lamerat getting the ball down, with Kockott's conversion getting them back to within a point.
The second half proved a cagier affair, but Castres were starting to come on strong. Kockott scuffed a simple penalty and Thomas Combezou had a try ruled out for crossing in midfield. They did take the lead through Dumora's penalty, but were quickly pegged back when Goode replied in kind.
Wasps then all but sealed the win when Jacke Cooper Woolley's charge helped set up Varndell to head for the corner. The former England winger was denied his 37th European try by Sivivatu's covering tackle, but the challenge was high and resulted in a yellow card for the Castres man and a penalty try for Wasps.
Tagicakibau then ensured a full five-point haul for Wasps when he did well to finish off after Goode's clever chip had turned the home defence.
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