Castres end Clermont's home run

Castres brought Clermont's four-year 77-match winning home run to a shuddering halt as a 22-16 victory took them into the French Top 14 semifinals.

South African scrumhalf Rory Kockott played a central role kicking 17 points and setting up his side's only try.

Castres will now face Montpellier in the semifinals next Saturday.

Defeat brought an end to New Zealander Vern Cotter's eight-year reign as coach of Clermont as he now tries to revive the Scottish international team.

It was Clermont's second successive shattering defeat in the space of two weeks after they had been knocked out of the European Cup in a 46-6 semifinal rout by Saracens.

"Nobody expected us to win here but we believed in what could happen," said Castres coach David Darricarrere.

"This team is at its strongest when no-one expects us to do well."

Clermont skipper Aurelien Rougerie admitted that an era was coming to an end at the club.

"We are disappointed but Castres took their chances and were better in the basics," he said.

"It's tough, especially for those who may be leaving. We would have preferred a happier ending."

Clermont were 9-6 to the good at half-time thanks to three penalties from Brock James with Kockott replying with a pair.

Castres gave up eight penalties in an ill-disciplined first half which saw lock forward Capo Ortega and winger Max Evans both sin-binned – the latter for a deliberate knock-on.

But back to full strength early in the second period, Castres nipped ahead 12-9 as Kockott maintained his 100 percent penalty record.

Clermont lost flank Gerhard Vosloo to a yellow card for an infringement at the ruck before Castres scored the game's opening try on the hour mark.

Again, Kockott was at the centre of the action with a dazzling sidestep breaking the Clermont line and immediately forcing the home side onto the back foot.

Ortega stormed towards the posts before being held up. But the momentum was with the champions and a quickly recycled ball allowed centre Remi Lamerat to force his way over for the score.

Kockott added the conversion for 19-9 with the 27-year-old South African turning the screw with another penalty for a 22-9 lead.

Clermont saw a glimmer of hope with four minutes left when No.8 Damien Chouly barged over for a try with James adding the conversion.

But the home side were unable to find the key breakthrough and their challenge ended with a whimper through a knock-on in the last seconds.

AFP