European Rugby Cup : Castres Fend Off Dragons

Which northern hemisphere national team will perform the best in the summer tours ?
Ireland (31%)
England (23%)
France (21%)
Wales (13%)
Scotland (8%)
Italy (5%)

Castres Fend Off Dragons

Castres Olympique	29 - 24	Dragons
Stade Pierre-Antoine, Castres Att: 6,451
Referee: Alain Rolland
Saturday 22nd October 2005, 18:15
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Match report

The Dragons earned a brave bonus point as they pushed Castres Olympique hard at Stade Pierre-Antoine

The Welsh region were heavy underdogs against the French heavyweights, but a stunning three-try second half set up a mouth-watering return match at Rodney Parade in January.

Wales scrum-half Gareth Cooper is getting back to his best form and backrower Michael Owen reminded national coach Mike Ruddock of his quality ahead of Tuesday’s Wales squad announcement for next month’s four internationals.
The Dragons began well last night, throwing the ball wide to their pacy outside backs at every opportunity, they had no answer to a Castres pack that looks like they could easily run through a brick wall – and enjoy it.
All Black props Kees Meeuws and Carl Hoeft led the way, and both were part of the pack who enveloped hooker David Roumieu and drove him over the line for the game’s first try.
Established goal-kicker Laurent Marticorena converted for a 7-0 lead which was reduced minutes later by Craig Warlow’s penalty goal as the Dragons persisted with their attacking spirit. Cooper and prop Rhys Thomas both went close to five-pointers after Owen’s involvement in both moves, but it was the home side who crossed again before half an hour.
Castres got the ball away from their forwards as quickly as possible and caught the Dragons off guard with a swiftly taken scrum. No 8 Guilaume Taussac broke until he was snared by Owen only to send Samoan wing Laloaoa Milford cantering over in the corner. Marticorena again converted for the 14-3 halftime lead.
The Dragons showed admirable grit to come back through tries to Cooper and winger Gareth Wyatt (two), and an upset looked on the cards in the final quarter, but Castres kept their heads.
Marticorena scored the crucial try for the home side, but Dragons coach Paul Turner will be a happy man. Every man and his dog had written off the Welsh region ahead of the game, and the bonus point for finishing within seven points may prove valuable in the coming weeks.

Castres Olympique

Dragons

Pos

Player

Pos

Jean-Baptiste Peyras Loustalet

Replacements

Penalty Tries

First half timeline
16	Castres Olympique	Try - D Roumieu
16	Castres Olympique	Conversion - L Marticorena
23	Dragons	Penalty kick - C Warlow
24	Castres Olympique	Try - L Milford
24	Castres Olympique	Conversion - L Marticorena
Second half timeline
42	Castres Olympique	Penalty kick - L Marticorena
48	Castres Olympique	Try - L Milford
48	Castres Olympique	Conversion - L Marticorena
54	Dragons	Try - G Cooper
54	Dragons	Conversion - C Warlow
56	Castres Olympique	Substitution - R Vigneaux on for D Roumieu
56	Castres Olympique	Substitution - F Faure on for G Bernad
58	Castres Olympique	Try - L Marticorena
60	Castres Olympique	Substitution - K Ghezal on for F Capo Ortega
60	Dragons	Substitution - L Charteris on for P Sidoli
64	Dragons	Try - G Wyatt
64	Dragons	Conversion - C Warlow
65	Dragons	Substitution - A Brown on for S Jones
65	Dragons	Substitution - R Bryan on for I Gough
65	Castres Olympique	Substitution - N Raffault on for F Tuilagi
72	Castres Olympique	Substitution - Y Forestier on for K Meeuws
74	Castres Olympique	Substitution - R Teulet on for L Milford
75	Dragons	Substitution - G Robinson on for R Thomas
75	Dragons	Blood sub - I Gough on for A Hall
77	Dragons	Try - G Wyatt
77	Dragons	Conversion - C Warlow

Results so far

Castres Olympique

Date	Stage	Opposition	Score
21/1/06	Pool 1	Dragons	L 17-28
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13/1/06	Pool 1	Munster	L 9-46
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16/12/05	Pool 1	Sale Sharks	L 3-35
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9/12/05	Pool 1	Sale Sharks	L 16-20
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29/10/05	Pool 1	Munster	L 16-42
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22/10/05	Pool 1	Dragons	W 29-24
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Dragons

Date	Stage	Opposition	Score
21/1/06	Pool 1	Castres Olympique	W 28-17
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15/1/06	Pool 1	Sale Sharks	L 10-30
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17/12/05	Pool 1	Munster	L 18-30
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10/12/05	Pool 1	Munster	L 8-24
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28/10/05	Pool 1	Sale Sharks	L 11-38
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22/10/05	Pool 1	Castres Olympique	L 24-29
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