Northampton Saints Vs. Castres: Premiership Champs Roll In Champions Cup
Northampton Saints Vs. Castres: Premiership Champs Roll In Champions Cup
The Northampton Saints blew out French Top 14 club Castres Olympique in Round 1 of the Investec Champions Cup on Dec. 7.
The Northampton Saints delivered a dominant performance at Franklin’s Gardens, defeating Castres Olympique 38-8 in their Investec Champions Cup clash on Dec. 7.
A strong showing from Juarno Augustus, and flawless game management by Fin Smith, ensured a bonus-point victory for the hosts in a 38-8 win in Pool 3 play.
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The Saints, the defending Premiership champions, have struggled in the domestic league with a 3-0-4 record, but they looked every bit of the Champions Cup semifinalist they were a year ago.
Castres is off a 6-0-5 Top 14 season but entered the match with a 54-10 loss to Clermont on Nov. 30.
Early Momentum For Northampton Saints Vs. Castres
The Saints set the tone with a try in the third minute by Fraser Dingwall, converted by Fin Smith, to take an early 7-0 lead.
Castres responded with a penalty from Louis le Brun in the sixth minute, narrowing the gap to 7-3.
Northampton maintained its attacking intensity, as Temo Mayanavanua powered over the try line in the eighth minute. Smith’s conversion extended the lead to 14-3, a scoreline that held until halftime, despite Castres missing a penalty opportunity in the 17th minute.
Northampton Saints Pile It On In Second Half Vs. Castres
The Saints carried their first-half momentum into the second half, with Juarno Augustus scoring the first of his two tries in the 43rd minute. Though Smith missed the conversion, Curtis Langdon crossed the line six minutes later, with Smith adding the extras to push the lead to 26-3.
Castres made wholesale substitutions in the 50th minute but struggled to regain a foothold.
Augustus’ second try in the 62nd minute, though unconverted, further highlighted the Saints' control.
Castres managed a consolation try in the 68th minute from Pierre Colonna, but a missed conversion by Jeremy Fernandez kept their score at eight points.
Henry Pollock sealed the win for Northampton with a try in the 74th minute, converted by Smith to secure the 38-8 result.
What's Next For Northampton Saints And Castres Rugby?
Castres Olympique hosts Munster Rugby next week, while the Saints trabel to South Africa for match a against the Vodacom Bulls.
Northampton Saints Vs. Castres Scoring Summary
Northampton Saints: Tries: Dingwall (3’), Mayanavanua (8’), Augustus (43’, 62’), Langdon (49’), Pollock (74’); Conversions: Smith (4’, 9’, 49’, 75’)
Castres Olympique: Try: Colonna (68’); Penalty: Le Brun (6’)
Watch Northampton Saints vs. Castres Highlights In Champions Cup
Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Round 1
- La Rochelle 24, Bath Rugby 20
- ASM Clermont Auvergne 28, Benetton Rugby 0
- Hollywoodbets Sharks 39 Exeter Chiefs 21
- Northampton Saints 38, Castres Olympique 8
- DHL Stormers vs. RC Toulon, Sat, Dec 7, 2024, 10:15 AM, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
- Munster Rugby vs. Stade Francais Paris, Sat, Dec 7, 2024, 12:30 PM, Thomond Park
- Saracens vs. Vodacom Bulls, Sat, Dec 7, 2024, 12:30 PM, StoneX Stadium
- Glasgow Warriors vs. Sale Sharks, Sat, Dec 7, 2024, 3 PM, Scotstoun Stadium
- Racing 92 vs. Harlequins, Sat, Dec 7, 2024, 3 PM, Stade Dominique Duvauchelle
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Leicester Tigers, Sun, Dec 8, 2024, 8 AM, Stade Chaban-Delmas
- Stade Toulousain vs. Ulster Rugby, Sun, Dec 8, 2024, 10:15 AM, Stade Ernest Wallon
- Bristol Bears vs. Leinster Rugby, Sun, Dec 8, 2024, 12:30 PM, Ashton Gate
Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Round 2
- Sale Sharks vs. Racing 92, Fri, Dec 13, 2024, 3 PM, Salford Community Stadium
- Castres Olympique vs. Munster Rugby, Fri, Dec 13, 2024, 3 PM, Stade Pierre-Fabre
- Vodacom Bulls vs. Northampton Saints, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 8 AM, Loftus Versfeld
- Ulster Rugby vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 10:15 AM, Kingspan Stadium
- Leinster Rugby vs. ASM Clermont Auvergne, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 12:30 PM, Aviva Stadium
- Leicester Tigers vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 12:30 PM, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
- Stade Rochelais vs. Bristol Bears, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 3 PM, Stade Marcel Deflandre
- Harlequins vs. DHL Stormers, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 3 PM, Twickenham Stoop
- RC Toulon vs. Glasgow Warriors, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 8 AM, Stade Felix Mayol
- Benetton Rugby vs. Bath Rugby, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 8 AM, Stadio Monigo
- Stade Francais Paris vs. Saracens, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 10:15 AM, Stade Jean Bouin
- Exeter Chiefs vs. Stade Toulousain, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 12:30 PM, Sandy Park
Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Round 3
- Glasgow Warriors vs. Racing 92, Fri, Jan 10, 2025, 3 PM, Scotstoun Stadium
- DHL Stormers vs. Sale Sharks, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 8 AM, DHL Stadium
- Exeter Chiefs vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 10:15 AM, Sandy Park
- Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Stade Toulousain, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 10:15 AM, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
- Munster Rugby vs. Saracens, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 12:30 PM, Thomond Park
- Stade Francais Paris vs. Northampton Saints, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 12:30 PM, Stade Jean Bouin
- Leicester Tigers vs. Ulster Rugby, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 3 PM, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
- Castres Olympique vs. Vodacom Bulls, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 3 PM, Stade Pierre-Fabre
- RC Toulon vs. Harlequins, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 8 AM, Stade Felix Mayol
- Stade Rochelais vs. Leinster Rugby, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Marcel Deflandre
- Bristol Bears vs. Benetton Rugby, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:15 AM, Ashton Gate
- Bath Rugby vs. ASM Clermont Auvergne, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 12:30 PM, The Rec
Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Round 4
- Ulster Rugby vs. Exeter Chiefs, Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 3 PM, Kingspan Stadium
- Vodacom Bulls vs. Stade Francais Paris, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 8 AM, Loftus Versfeld
- Northampton Saints vs. Munster Rugby, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 10:15 AM, cinch Stadium @ Franklin's Gardens
- ASM Clermont Auvergne vs. Bristol Bears, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Marcel-Michelin
- Benetton Rugby vs. Stade Rochelais, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 12:30 PM, Stadio Monigo
- Leinster Rugby vs. Bath Rugby, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 12:30 PM, Aviva Stadium
- Harlequins vs. Glasgow Warriors, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 3 PM, Twickenham Stoop
- Racing 92 vs. DHL Stormers, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 3 PM, Paris La Defense Arena
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 8 AM, Stade Chaban-Delmas
- Saracens vs. Castres Olympique, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 10:15 AM, StoneX Stadium
- Stade Toulousain vs. Leicester Tigers, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Ernest Wallon
- Sale Sharks vs. RC Toulon, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 12:30 PM, Salford Community Stadium
Investec Champions Cup Format
Key points of the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup:
- A multi-pool format, as launched in the 2023-2024 season
- 24 elite clubs - eight each from the Gallagher Premiership, URC and TOP 14 - in four pools of six
- Sporting jeopardy, with each club playing against four different opponents, home or away, in the pool stage
- Four highest-ranked clubs in each pool qualify for the Round of 16
- The Investec Champions Cup will be played over eight weekends, with four pool rounds and four knockout rounds culminating in the 2025 final, which will be staged at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Saturday, May 24.
Investec Champions Cup Weekends
- Round 1 – 6/7/8 December 2024
- Round 2 – 13/14/15 December 2024
- Round 3 – 10/11/12 January 2025
- Round 4 – 17/18/19 January 2025
- Round of 16 – 4/5/6 April 2025
- Quarter-finals – 11/12/13 April 2025
- Semi-finals – 2/3/4 May 2025
- 2025 Investec Champions Cup final – Saturday, May 24, Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Champions Cup Qualifications
Twenty-four clubs have qualified for the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup as follows:
- United Rugby Championship (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.
- TOP 14 (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.
- Gallagher Premiership Rugby (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.
- If not already qualified, the winner of the 2024 Investec Champions Cup will take the place of the eighth-ranked club in its league.
Investec Champions Cup Qualifiers
- TOP 14 – Stade Toulousain, Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Stade Français Paris, RC Toulon, Stade Rochelais, Racing 92, Castres Olympique, ASM Clermont Auvergne
- GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP – Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby, Sale Sharks, Saracens, Bristol Bears, Harlequins, Exeter Chiefs, Leicester Tigers
- UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP – Glasgow Warriors, Vodacom Bulls, Munster Rugby, Leinster Rugby, DHL Stormers, Ulster Rugby, Benetton Rugby, Hollywoodbets Sharks
When Does The 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup Begin? When Is The Champions Cup Final?
The Investec Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup begin Dec. 6, and the four-round pool-play action ends Jan. 19, 2025. The Round of 16 starts on April 4, while the quarterfinals are April 11-13. The semifinals are May 2-4.
The EPCR Championships weekend is in Cardiff, Wales at Principality Stadium. There are championship games on May 23 (EPCR Challenge Cup) and May 24 (Investec Champions Cup).
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