Indiscipline costs Montpellier

Indiscipline cost the Challenge Cup champions once again, as Paul Willemse became the second Montpellier player in two weeks to be shown a red card. Tries from Akapusi Qera, Jesse Mogg and Nemani Nadolo had put them in commanding position.

But Alexander Bias' score after Willemse's shoulder charge snatched victory for Castres, who stayed in the game thanks to a Horacio Agulla score and 19 points from the kicking tee. Castres remain behind Montpellier in Pool Four, but only by a point heading into the final two rounds of pool action.

The home side were out to get back in the Pool Four race for the quarterfinals with a revenge victory over their Top 14 rivals. And they got off to the perfect start when Benjamin Urdapilleta split the uprights with a penalty after three minutes.

Dimitri Catrikilis levelled the scores before Urdapilleta nudged the hosts back into a three-point lead. But the Challenge Cup holders asserted their dominance when Catrikilis found Qera with a perfectly weighted long pass to put the flank over after a well worked line-out move. Catrikilis added the extras before Urdapilleta pulled Castres back to within a point with a penalty.

But two Argentinians combined to send the home side into the lead at half-time. Urdapilleta sent an accurate cross-filed kick towards flying Puma, who rose highest to claim the ball and dot down. Urdapilleta landed the touchline conversion to give the hosts a 16-10 advantage at the interval.

But Montpellier made a blistering start to the second-half to retake the initiative. Australia back Mogg raced over two minutes after the restart to move Montpellier back within a point, before Catrikilis landed a penalty to give the visitors the lead. And it got even better for Jake White's side when giant wing Nadolo intercepted a loose pass in his own 22 to race home for their third score to put Montpellier 23-16 ahead.

Urdapilleta pulled three points back for Castres, before Montpellier opened the door with their second red card in as many weeks. Last time out it was Davit Kubriashvili who was dismissed for charging into a ruck and this time it was replacement second row Willemse.

And Castres made their man advantage count when they sent Bias over to move into a 26-23 lead. It got even worse for the visitors as Jannie du Plessis was shown yellow for offending as the try was scored. And Rory Kockott sealed victory with a late penalty.

The scorers:

For Castres

Tries: Agulla, Bia

Cons: Urdapilleta 2

Pens: Urdapilleta 4, Kockott

For Montpellier:

Tries: Qera, Mogg, Nadolo

Con: Catrakilis

Pens: Catrakilis 2

Red card: Paul Willemse (Montpellier)

Yellow card: Jannie du Plessis (Montpellier)

Teams: 

Castres: 15 Geoffrey Palis, 14 Julien Caminati, 13 Afusipa Taumoepeau, 12 Florian Vialelle, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Benjamin Urdapilleta, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Anthony Jelonch, 7 Steve Mafi, 6 Yannick Caballero, 5 Victor Moreaux, 4 Loïc Jacquet, 3 Damien Tussac, 2 Marc-Antoine Rallier, 1 Mihaita Lazar.

Replacements: 16 Brice Mach, 17 Tudor Stroe, 18 Yohan Montes, 19 Thibault Lassale, 20 Alexandre Bias, 21 Antoine Dupont, 22 Julien Dumora, 23 Pierre Berard.

Montpellier: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Timoci Nagusa, 13 Joe Tomane, 12 Alexandre Dumoulin, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic White, 8 Akapusi Qera (captain), 7 Kélian Galletier, 6 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 5 Nicholaas Van Rensburg, 4 Konstantine Mikautadze, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Shalva Mamukashvili, 1 Mikheil Nariashvili.

Replacements: 16 Romain Ruffenach, 17 Yvan Watremez, 18 Antoine Guillamon, 19 Paul Willemse, 20 Antoine Battut, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Henry Immelman, 23 Yvan Reilhac.

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

Assistant referees: Peter Allan (England), Paul Dix (England)

TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)

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