the essential
The Castres snatched at the end of the suspense, this Saturday, a precious success (30-26) against the MHR at the end of a completely crazy end to the match.
We still wonder how Castres Olympique won against Montpellier this Saturday. A victory that looked like a miracle when we know that the Cistes led for… 83 minutes and that they had a ten-point lead ten minutes from the end of the match. At that moment, a Castres victory seemed (very) utopian as the Olympians were locked in their own half and incapable of bringing danger into the Hérault camp.
Also read:
REPLAY. Castres-Montpellier: the CO wins and relaunches in Top 14! Relive the match
But the Blue and White, far from having a great day, did not give up and displayed exceptional mental resources, pushed by their 16th man. “There was a crazy atmosphere. Ends of matches like that give you chills but it's not good for the heart”, smiles CO manager Jeremy Davidson, aware that his team did well . Certainly, but she didn't give up and the technician did not fail to emphasize it: “There is a feeling of pride in the character displayed by this group.”
Maravat, the unexpected uprooting
The Castres comeback began in the 72nd minute of play and the try from Vilimoni Botitu – one of the best Castres this Saturday – following very good work from Théo Chabouni. This try, transformed by Louis Le Brun, allowed the Tarnais to get back to three points and glimpse a victory still unhoped for a few minutes earlier. But just before the siren, Gauthier Doubrère was propelled into touch by the Hérault defense after trying a little daring side behind a ball carried within 22 meters of the MHR. We then thought that mass was said. Especially when Lenni Nouchi caught the throw. But the Montpellier jumper then had the ball snatched away by Gauthier Maravat. “He took the ball with both hands. We were beaten in the air, we didn't understand each other to jump. Then I see the opportunity to catch the ball. I try and it ends up in my hands. I am the first to be surprised. It wasn’t planned,” says the Tarn second line.
Also read:
Top 14 – Castres-Montpellier: “It’s never easy to come to us…” The CO wants to keep the pace at home
What’s next? “We manage to string together the playing times and then it smiles on us,” recalls the hero of the evening, Mathieu Babillot, author of the victory try in the 84th minute of play. “We are very happy but everything is “wasn't perfect I'm glad we're going on vacation so as not to do the debrief on Monday because it would have stung,” admits with humor the Olympian captain, happy to finally go on vacation for a few days after a long block of time. nine matches.
Hence, also, the importance of this success which certainly represents much more than four points for the CO. It may be one of those pivotal victories that changes the destiny of a season. In Pierre-Fabre, destiny is unpredictable with this CO.
