After the victory at the finish of Castres Olympique against the MHR (30-26), one of the last actions caused debate in the corridors of Pierre Fabre this Saturday, November 2.
The siren has just sounded on a new defensive action by the MHR. The Montpellier residents sent the Castres pack into touch and will benefit from the last throw. Lenni Nouchi rises, catches the ball… And then no one can really explain what happens next. But it was Castres who ended up coming out with the ball in hand.
“We have this last touch at 5m, I'm going to defend and I see Gauthier (Marawat) go out with the ball. Honestly, I don't know what's going on with the action. Behind, it smiles on us…”savors Mathieu Babillot, the captain of the CO.
“We are beaten in the air. Their snatcher hits a little low, the ball goes up. I try and the ball ends up in my hands. Afterwards, he passes what happens”explains, for his part, Maravat. A ball recovered and two penalties played by hand later, Babillot who will flatten behind the line and crucify Montpellier who have been heroic so far.
“I learned a rule today”
Enough to trigger cold anger in the Montpellier coach, Joan Caudullo. “When you win the match, it sucks to lose it. Because for me, we won it”he fumed after the meeting. “One person decided otherwise. I learned a rule today, that we had the right to touch the jumper in the air”he whistled at Australian referee Nic Berry.
“The jumper is caught in the air,” analyzed former third row Thierry Dusautoir on the Canal + set. “This end of the match is improbable”summed up Jérémy Davidson, the Castres manager. A cruel end for an MHR who deserved better.
