Match Report: Northampton Saints 38-8 Castres Olympique

A resounding 38-8 victory kicked off Northampton Saints’ Investec Champions Cup campaign, as last season’s semi-finalists secured a five-point win against Castres Olympique in Round 1. 

Saints pulled away to an early lead, with tries from captain Fraser Dingwall and Temo Mayanavanua only answered by three points from the boot of Louis le Brun for the away side before the break. 

And while Castres did get themselves over the tryline in the second half, Northampton stretched their legs after the interval to score four more – two through Man of the Match Juarno Augustus and one apiece from Curtis Langdon and Henry Pollock – to open their European account with a full five points. 

FIRST-HALF:

Saints started brightly, with their pressure in attack first creating an opportunity for Tom Litchfield, when Fin Smith sent a crossfield kick over to the waiting centre. And while that chance went begging, Northampton stayed in the ascension, and it was eventually captain Dingwall who barged his way over for Saints’ first. 

Louis le Brun added three points for Castres from the tee but Saints were then straight back on the score sheet as a rampaging Mayananvanua broke free of Castres’ defence and cantered over the whitewash. 

Saints thought they had a third when Pollock dived on loose ball after Langdon charged down a Castres clearing kick, though a trip to the TMO chalked that effort off for a knock on by the flanker as he grounded the ball.

Stalemate ensued for much of the rest of the first half, with a missed le Brun penalty the only real opportunity for either side to score – seeing the teams into the changing rooms with the scoreboard 14-3 in Saints’ favour. 

SECOND HALF:

Saints started the scoring again in the second half as a brilliant turnover from Pollock earned Northampton a penalty. Tommy Freeman spotted a waiting Augustus in space on the right and sent a looping pass over to the No. 8, who charged forwards and over the line out there.

Smith’s conversion went wide in the swirling wind but Saints kept their foot on the gas and it was not long before they found themselves back in Castres' 22, with Langdon stretching over the tryline from close range. 

This time Smith’s conversion went over to put Saints 26-3 ahead and Saints shifted from attack into defence swiftly as their guests knocked on the door. Some resolute defence from the home side kept Castres at bay around the hour mark, and after holding their guests at arm’s length for a time, Elliot Millar Mills held the ball up over the line.

And Augustus would have a second score as Saints took another quick penalty close to Castres’ tryline – with the No. 8 eventually barging his way over for Saints’ fifth. 

Castres did get their first points of the second half in the 67th minute, after taking a quick penalty themselves and sending replacement hooker Colonna over from close range. 

But Saints hit straight back to claim their sixth try of the afternoon, as deft hands got them into Castres’ territory before Pollock claimed retribution for his earlier denied score and bumped his way past three Castres defenders to rumble over the tryline. 

Smith’s conversion made it 38-8 and while Castres mounted a final attack, more solid defence from Saints at the death ended in a breakdown penalty that the fly-half duly tapped and sent into the stands to seal the five-point win for Saints.

Northampton stay in the Investec Champions Cup next weekend, with a trip to Pretoria on the cards as they face Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld. 

LINE-UPS:

Saints: 15 Ramm, 14 Freeman, 13 Litchfield, 12 Dingwall (c), 11 Sleightholme, 10 F Smith, 9 Mitchell; 1 Iyogun, 2 C Langdon, 3 Millar Mills, 4 Mayanavanua, 5 Lockett, 6 Scott-Young, 7 Pollock, 8 Augustus.
Replacements: 16 Wright, 17 West, 18 Green, 19 Munga, 20 Coles, 21 Mapu, 22 McParland, 23 Hutchinson.

Castres: 15 Chabouni, 14 Raisuqe, 13 Seguret, 12 Dupont, 11 Hulleu, 10 le Brun, 9 Arata Perrone (c); 1 Guerois-Galisson, 2 Zarantonello, 3 Azar, 4 Ducat, 5 Nakarawa, 6 Peysson, 7 Ardron, 8 Tukino.
Replacements: 16 Colonna, 17 de Benedittis, 18 Corato, 19 Babillot, 20 Papalii, 21 Fernandez, 22 Botitu, 23 Baget.