Castres Olympique v Bath: Five takeaways as several ‘statements’ made with England hopeful adding to his player of the match collection
Alfie Barbeary and Vilikesa Sela in action for Bath.
Following Bath’s 43-20 win over Castres Olympique at Stade Pierre-Fabre, here are our five takeaways from Friday’s Investec Champions Cup clash.
The top line
Bath’s dream to graduate from English champions to kings of Europe is very much alive after they hammered Castres in south west France despite at one point being reduced to 13 players.
Johann van Graan’s side powered to the top of Pool 2 with a six-try demolition job inspired by hard-running Alfie Barbeary, who added another player of the match award to his growing collection.
Tries by Cam Redpath, Ted Hill, Tom Dunn, Beno Obano, Will Muir and Tom Carr-Smith secured a win which guarantees Bath go into their final pool match at home to Edinburgh a point clear.
To win with so much to spare despite playing 20 minutes a man short, marks this out as one of Bath’s greatest European nights since they won the title back in 1998.
Statement performance from PREM champions
Bath arrived at Castres with questions to answer after two uncomfortable outings in the domestic league against Northampton and Exeter.
If Saints scoring 27 unanswered points to win at the Rec and end Bath’s 14-month unbeaten home record was not concerning enough, Exeter rallied from 26-0 down the following week to level and almost repeat the trick.
When Castres scored twice to lead and the visitors had Obano and Muir binned in the opening half hour it seemed Bath’s rocky run would continue.
Instead the West Countrymen rallied like the champions they are, inspired by Barbeary’s relentless carrying. At a ground they had not visited for 25 years, they capitalised on Castres indiscipline to delight their travelling fans.
By the end, with a bonus point in the bag and six from seven kicked by Finn Russell, it was possible to imagine the reigning European Challenge Cup winners going all the way in the senior competition.
On-song Barbeary hails squad effort
Player of the match against Exeter last week, medal winner again here, yet Barbeary deflected personal praise and instead hailed a real squad effort.
“We knew that they were going to come out firing, especially at their home ground,” he said. “They’re a great side. But we trust our squad. We’ve got great depth.
“This is a big competition and every point is crucial. To get a bonus point here is huge.”
Bath boss van Graan agreed with his number eight, insisting: “That was a real 80-minute performance by 23 players. We stuck to the plan and defended our line really well.
“We got through some tough spells in the first half and the score (by Dunn) just before half-time was big. Getting that bonus point is massive.”
Relief for Bath after Horse fails to heed lesson from Ridl
When Muir brought Castres full-back Theo Chabouni crashing to earth on 22 minutes, the fear was it would hurt Bath the way Campbell Ridl’s 20-minute red card for much the same offence crippled Exeter at Bath last weekend.
Chiefs shipped 26 unanswered points with 14 men and ultimately lost the game. In France, on a wet and windy night, Bath fans said a prayer as Muir was shown yellow and left the field.
To make matters worse Obano was already in the sin-bin, having croc-rolled Castres captain Baptiste Delaporte shortly after Redpath’s try put the visitors ahead in the 11th minute.
Even if the prop did return a minute later it left Bath playing 20 minutes of the first half a man down. Castres would have bitten your hand off for such an advantage, yet were able to do nothing with it.
Muir’s relief at Bath holding firm in his absence was clear and he repaid his debt of gratitude with their fifth try, once again from great build-up play by Barbeary, to put the result beyond doubt.
Never mind the Pollocks
So much has been said about Henry Pollock you could be forgiven for imagining he was the only super starlet to emerge from last year’s England’s U20 intake.
Anybody of a Blue, Black and White persuasion in Castres will tell you differently, however. For 20-year old Billy Sela was preferred to World Cup winner Thomas du Toit at tighthead prop and did himself proud.
Away games in the Champions Cup, particularly in France, are as tough a test of character as exists outside of the senior international arena. Castres rarely lose at home. Those boys have muscles in their spit.
Sela stood up to the challenge manfully, before making way for Du Toit just before the hour mark with his team two scores clear.
Just for good measure Bath brought on another of Mark Mapletoft’s U20 cohort, hooker Kepu Tuipulotu, for the last eight minutes to share in a famous victory.