Match Report: Northampton Saints 51 – 16 Castres Olympique

Northampton Saints steamed into the semi-finals of the Investec Champions Cup for the second successive season, courtesy of an all-action 51-16 victory over Castres Olympique.

The hosts deservedly led 20-13 at the interval after first-half scores for Tommy Freeman, Curtis Langdon, and Alex Coles – plus five points from the boot of Fin Smith. Castres stayed in touch though and the gap could have been wider but for a try and two penalties for Jeremy Fernandez.

But despite another Fernandez penalty early in the second half, Saints stretched their legs from thereon with George Furbank crossing on his return to action, before Henry Pollock grabbed a double and Tom Pearson added another late on to send Saints into the competition’s final four in style.

For more information regarding tickets for the semi-finals in Dublin, please CLICK HERE.

FIRST HALF

Saints dominated the possession early in the game, going close inside the 22 before the visitors won a turnover at the breakdown and cleared their lines – only for Pollock to run it back in style, offloading to Hendy in space.

Northampton’s wing hit the deck hard in the tackle, injuring his shoulder in the process, resulting in an early return to action for Club captain Furbank.

The fullback was straight into the action after Saints stole a lineout, exchanging passes with Freeman down the right wing brilliantly to send the latter clear for the game’s opening try.

Smith converted from right of the posts, but against the run of play Castres hit straight back with a breakdown penalty from almost halfway kicked successfully by Fernandez.

The one-way traffic continued however as Saints won a scrum penalty against the head, and after they had made ground with the kick, Furbank’s grubber found its way into the hands of Langdon who put his head down and charged into the corner.

The breathless pace continued and, with the cinch Stadium crowd in superb voice, more slick hands from Northampton’s back line sent Josh Kemeny clear down the right and – as the lock sped towards the corner – a high tackle from Rémy Baget prevented him from scoring.

Despite referee Andrea Piardi ruling out a penalty try being awarded, Saints continued to attack and were rewarded with another offside penalty in front of the posts, which Smith kicked to make it 15-3.

Northampton could not gather the kick-off however, and were punished as Castres scored with their first entry into the 22. With a ruck formed right on the try-line, Fernandez stuck a hand through and grounded the ball, before converting his own score.

Yet another infringement from Castres inside the 22 led to a yellow card for Leone Nakarawa, and rather than kick three points, Saints took five as a clever lineout play saw the ball shifted off the top to Coles who stretched over the whitewash.

But the visitors did cut the gap again on the stoke of half-time, with Northampton penalised for not releasing and Fernandez adding another three points to send the sides in at 20-13.

SECOND HALF

An early 50-22 from Louis le Brun put Castres on the front foot, and a breakdown penalty allowed Fernandez to close the gap even further from the tee.

But Saints shut the door again straight away, with Pollock winning a turnover on the edge of the 22, and Northampton going through the phases until Furbank hit a short line to score from close range.

Furbank was back again seconds later to make a try-saving tackle on Abraham Papalii, who looked to have burst clear after collecting a loose ball in midfield.

And the hosts struck another sucker punch moments later when Alex Mitchell brilliantly sniped through a gap down the short side and found Pollock on his shoulder, who sped away under the posts – Smith converted both tries to take the scoreline to 34-16.

Tempers flared as Pollock was hit illegally in a ruck by Baget, who was sin-binned for the offence, and the subsequent pile-up saw Temo Mayanavanua and Lois Guerois-Galisson also see yellow in the aftermath.

Tom West and Elliot Millar Mills entered the action to bolster the front row, and the former made an immediate impact with a massive leg drive into the 22, before Mitchell pulled the defence out of the line with a couple of dummies and popped the ball to Pollock for his second of the afternoon.

Smith knocked over a penalty after Kemeny – who was industrious all afternoon – got over the ball 35 metres out, and there was still time for replacement Pearson to break a tackle and cruise home to cap a fantastic afternoon for Northampton supporters at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.

Tickets for Saints’ semi-final in Dublin against Leinster will be available from EPCR in the coming days – for more information please CLICK HERE.

LINE-UPS

SAINTS: Ramm, Freeman, Odendaal, Dingwall (c), Hendy, Smith, Mitchell; Iyogun, Langdon, Davison, Mayanavanua, Coles, Kemeny, Pollock, Augustus.
Replacements: Walker, West, Millar Mills, Lockett, Pearson, James, Hutchinson, Furbank.

CASTRES: Chabouni, Palis, Botitu, Goodhue, Baget, le Brun, Fernandez; Walcker, Barlot, Collier, Maravat, Nakarawa, Babillot (c), Delaporte, Papalii.
Replacements: Zarantonello, Guerois-Galisson, Azar, Meka, Macurdy, Cope, Arata Perrone, Dumora.