Cipriani nudges Jones as Gloucester beat Castres
CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Danny Cipriani kicked 14 points to help Gloucester to a 19-14 victory over French champions Castres in the European Champions Cup on Sunday.
The English side were in control throughout, and after Cipraini and Julien Dumora exchanged three-pointers twice, Gloucester scored the first try on the match.
Wing Tom Marshall carved through Castres’ defence and put through scrumhalf Callum Braley to score underneath the posts just before half-time.
With a Cipriani conversion, the Cherry and Whites went into the break with a healthy 13-6 lead.
The flyhalf – who was being watch on by England head coach Eddie Jones – proceeded to slot over two penalties to extend the West Country side’s lead.
Castres scared the home side late on with converted try, as Martin Laveau crossed over in the corner but their 17-year wait to win against an English side continues.
Ben Morgan was awarded Man of the Match and his side will travel to Thomond Park next Saturday to face Munster.
Castres will host Exeter Chiefs in their Pool Two match.
The scorers:
For Gloucester:
Try: Braley
Con: Cipriani
Pens: Cipriani 4
For Castres:
Try: Laveau
Con: Dumora
Pens: Dumora 2
Teams:
Gloucester: 15 Jason Woodward, 14 Charlie Sharples, 13 Billy Twelvetrees, 12 Mark Atkinson, 11 Tom Marshall, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Callum Braley, 8 Ben Morgan (captain), 7 Jake Polledri, 6 Freddie Clarke, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Fraser Balmain, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Josh Hohneck.
Replacements: 16 Henry Walker, 17 Val Rapava Ruskin, 18 Ciaran Knight, 19 Todd Gleave, 20 Matt Banahan, 21 Ben Vellacott, 22 Owen Williams, 23 Tom Hudson.
Castres: 15 Armand Batlle, 14 Martin Laveau, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Florian Vialelle, 11 Taylor Paris, 10 Julien Dumora, 9 Ludovic Radosavljevic, 8 Alex Tulou, 7 Baptiste Delaporte, 6 Mathieu Babillot (captain), 5 Loic Jacquet, 4 Christophe Samson, 3 Paea Fa’anunu, 2 Jody Jenneker, 1 Tudor Stroe.
Replacements: 16 Paul Sauzaret, 17 Tapu Falatea, 18 Wilfrid Hounkpatin, 19 Steve Mafi, 20 Yannick Caballero, 21 Yohan Le Bourhis, 22 David Smith, 23 Rory Kockott.
Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Assistant referees: Manuel Bottino (Italy), Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
TMO: Stefano Pennè (Italy)
AFP & @ChampionsCup
