Northampton Saints v Castres: Five takeaways as ‘silky’ George Furbank sets up all-English tie after ‘great advert’ for Investec Champions Cup
George Furbank was excellent for Northampton Saints.
Following a 49-41 victory for Northampton Saints over Castres in their Investec Champions Cup clash on Friday, here’s our five takeaways from the Round of 16 meeting.
The top line
What a spectacle. Northampton progress to the quarter-final of European club rugby’s biggest stage as they weathered a dangerous Castres side to run out seven-try winners.
Danilo Fischetti, Josh Kemeny, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Archie McParland and Fraser Dingwall scored to go with a penalty try as Anthony Belleau kicked 12 points.
Christian Ambadiang (2), Theo Chabouni, Tyler Ardron, Vuate Karawalevu and Vilimoni Botitu struck with tries for a brilliant Castres, who were unlucky losers this evening.
Discipline possibly cost the visitors as yellow cards for Ambadiang, Guillaume Ducat and Veresa Tuqovu Ramototabua left them numerically short, notably early in the piece. Despite this, the French side always had Northampton sweating and fought until the end in a breathtaking performance that has earned them a few new fans across Europe.
But it’s the Saints who march on to the last-eight where an all-English meeting with Bath or Saracens awaits, with the venue and opposition to be determined on Saturday.
Great advert
Forget the winner and loser tonight, this was a wonderful contest that treated viewers to 13 scores and proved that knockout rugby does not always have to be a cagey affair.
Northampton are known for their attacking pedigree but Castres certainly matched them in that regard with countless outstanding passages of play that cut the Saints deep.
We can only hope the remainder of the Investec Champions Cup weekend follows suit as this was a fantastic advert for the competition that kept fans’ eyes glued to screens.
Statement from Furbank
It was a silky performance from Northampton’s full-back as his running game, option taking and kicking for territory was right out the top drawer time and again tonight.
The classy operator, who has been ravaged by injuries of late, was brimming with confidence and certainly stepped up as a playmaker in the absence of Fin Smith, offering Belleau a welcome helping hand as the Saints launched their come-from-behind triumph. Make no mistake, this knockout victory had Furbank’s fingerprints all over it.
Indeed, his two big moments came on 52 minutes and the hour mark when awareness of what was in front of him saw the full-back catch and give to Freeman to make it a vital two-score lead before he hit a sumptuous line to scorch over for a much-needed try of his own which helped halt the Castres momentum that had suddenly been building.
Tonight will be a performance that will warm England head coach Steve Borthwick and his backroom team as number 15 remains a problem jersey after the recent Six Nations.
Never write off Castres
There seems a common theme in recent years that Castres are wrongly written off before matches against European rivals, especially on the road. That now surely has to stop.
Once again they rubbished pre-match talk of them being a level below, not as talented as their opposition or might be psychologically off it coming into games such as these.
From the outset Castres stunned the Franklin’s Gardens faithful with an intelligent and clinical brand of rugby union that sent them in 15-14 to the good at the half-time break.
They were a joy to watch throughout and it was perhaps fitting that Ambadiang bookended the try scoring tonight, while fellow deadly wing Karawalevu was just as impressive.
The Pollock factor
Henry Pollock might not be everyone’s cup of tea – a significant crop of Castres players certainly are not big fans – but that hugely plays into Saints’ hands as he becomes a target.
There were numerous occasions that the England international star was hit with purpose, sometimes illegally, and that gifted Northampton possession which they can exploit.
He certainly gives as good as he gets and loves to play the antagoniser, but teams must refuse to be drawn in as it’ll cost them with referees if it becomes a theme going forward.
There was one occasion where Castres were lucky not to have a decision reversed when fly-half Enzo Hervé sarcastically applauded a Pollock error and slapped him on the chest. The Northampton back-rower managed to keep his cool and not take the bait but all night long he was a target, which due to his persona, will happen week on week.
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