If you were counting on Stade Toulousain or Union Bordeaux-Bègles to receive your dose of champagne rugby for this 4th and final day of the group stages of the European Cup, you bet on the wrong horses. The Covid-19 and the EPCR will have got the better of your hopes.
As since the beginning of this edition of the Champions Cup, it is Castres Olympique who deserved all the necessary attention. If they fell again against Harlequins (36-33), Friday January 21, and come out of this edition with a record of four defeats in as many games, the Tarnais have enjoyed themselves.
Even the five tries passed to the champions of England, synonymous with an offensive bonus, do not say everything about the commitment, the thirst for offshore play more associated with Toulouse than with Castres who punctuated a brilliant mano a mano.
With two tries transformed in ten minutes after perfectly carried out throw-ins, the CO, which could still hope for qualification for the final stages by winning, had entered its match perfectly (13-0, 10th).
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What a test of Castres!!! pic.twitter.com/9QmZOJM0eD— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) January 21, 2022
But the CO fell back into its failings which had deprived it of the feat against Harlequins in the first leg or during the double confrontation against Munster. Unable to afford an easy game, weighed down by handballs not far from the line or in the in-goal, they had the knack of being penalized just after scoring and giving their opponents the opportunity to come back. right away. The eight points left at the foot by opener Ben Botica also weighed heavily in the balance.
The heroic defense of the Tarnais, beyond regulation time (80+5), will not have been enough. The second line Alex Dombrandt came to defeat the Tarn qualification hopes with a test long studied, then validated on video by allowing his team to snatch victory on the wire.
Despite their four defeats, the CO came out of the Champions Cup with five points (thanks to defensive and offensive bonuses), proof of their selflessness. A self-sacrifice which should legitimately allow the current third in the Top 14 to aim for the peaks of the French championship this season.