Castres can probably already draw a line under the European Rugby Cup after conceding on Friday, at the start of the 3rd day, his third defeat in as many matches, at home against the Irish of Munster (13-16 ).
Eight of the twelve teams from each group will qualify for the final stages at the end of the first round, so the CO is not yet mathematically eliminated from the competition.
But it would take a miracle next week on the lawn of Harlequins, reigning English champions, for the continental adventure to continue.
Affected during the week by the Covid-19, the Tarn club, which has never really made Europe an absolute priority, does it really want to?
The question could once again arise when reading the starting XV lined up on Friday evening, with 13 changes made compared to the one who had dominated Stade Français the previous week in the league (15-9).
The second Castres knives were not unworthy, but...
As during the first two days, punctuated by two defeats with a defensive bonus against Harlequins (20-18) and Munster (19-13), the second knives from Castres did not however deserve against a great European. They even tipped in front at the break (7-3) thanks to a try from young fullback Thomas Larregain, used only once this season in the Top 14, coming from a perfectly balanced kicking game by New Zealand opener Ben Botica. The proof of an interesting reservoir on the Tarn side, even if Munster tipped the match in their favor in the second act, first thanks to the foot of their young opener Jack Crowley, then to a try in the last moments from the slender third row Gavin Coombes.
This is the second defeat in the space of a month in the European Cup for Castres, in its Pierre-Fabre stadium where Pierre-Henry Broncan's men have not lost in the league for more than a year. .
A series that the CO, currently 3rd in the Top 14 ranking, will have plenty of time to extend, now that they have little to hope for from their European campaign.
