European Cup – Day 2: Castres, business acumen

This CO is still surprising. Whenever his squad roster for the European clashes has come out, few haven’t said Castres will pick up.
Against the Harlequins, the Tarnais made their detractors lie. Against the Munster, here they are who have done it again. To believe that they take pleasure in defeating the forecasts. Or should we understand that, although by operating turnover, the “Blue and White” are bravely playing their luck in this European Cup which is taking a nasty turn with the advance of the Covid.
Some would say it wasn’t the Munster of yesteryear, the one that walked over everyone at home – or away from home – but still. For Castres, absent from the Champions Cup for two seasons, it was necessary to fill up an overwhelming context, that of an assumed desire to bring back points from Ireland, in a suffocating environment that is Thomond Park, filled like an egg for the last time before a while, with gauges being put in place from tomorrow in the stadiums of Clover Island.
Pierre-Henry Broncan’s men took up this challenge, achieving a good deal with this defensive bonus snatched at the end of the match thanks to a passage in force Kévin Kornath a few meters from the line (13-19, 78), confirming a little plus a depth of staff which may prove beneficial in the future. We think in particular of Simon Meka, first tenure this season, whose shadow work was invaluable to hamper Munster, or Jack Whetton, baptized with the CO against the Harlequins last Sunday, whose return to Jack O ‘ Donoghue would undoubtedly have deserved a better conclusion. Back on the back of the Irish number 8, he could not prevent the third center line from planting the first try – not really obvious of course (3-16, 58).

Munster crunches

A painful test for the people of Tarn without being illogical. Because Munster still dominated the debates, erecting an almost hermetic wall against which the Castres sought the slightest breach, counting on the fingers of one hand the opportunities to register points. Castres who have scrapped severe, not having to be ashamed of their performance in the fight against a team feared for the power of its pack. It is in particular by remaining at the forefront of the fight that they were able to stay in the game until this banderilla of O’Donoghue.
Even if the Munstermen offered their visitors the possibility of keeping a hunter position. Twice, Johann van Graan’s players made the wrong decision. Damian de Allende forgot a surplus on his left before the saving return Santiago Arata causing him to lose control of the ball when flattening (34), or Andrew Conway, favoring a game at the foot of pressure while three of his teammates presented themselves to support, to its interior (27).
Rare Irish errors that Bastien Guillemin almost took advantage of, close to making two interceptions that would have led him into the in-goal (3, 47). The CO paid for his blunders and inaccuracies with the ball in hand, his avoidable faults – penalty returned after Kornath tore off Hodnett’s helmet – and contented himself with the defensive bonus, Urdapilleta preferring to clear in touch on the last possession of his family, 70 meters from the Irish line. The choice of prudence and pragmatism. Castres accomplished what he came for.

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