Castres Olympique vs Exeter Chiefs - Heineken Champions Cup

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Chiefs Team to Face Castres

15 Stuart Hogg
14 Jack Nowell
13 Henry Slade
12 Rory O'Loughlin
11 Olly Woodburn
10 Joe Simmonds
9 Sam Maunder

1 Scott Sio
2 Jack Yeandle (c)
3 Harry Williams
4 Dafydd Jenkins
5 Jonny Gray
6 Dave Ewers
7 Christ Tshiunza
8 Sam Simmonds

16 Dan Frost
17 Alec Hepburn
18 Josh Iosefa-Scott
19 Ruben van Heerden
20 Santiago Grondona
21 Will Becconsall
22 Solomone Kata
23 Josh Hodge

Officials

Referee: Frank Murphy

Assistant Referees: Andrew Cole and Dan Carson
TMO: Olly Hodges

Weather Forecast

A clear sky and a gentle breeze from the west
Temperature -1 degree but will feel like -5 degrees
Low chance of rain but it will be very cold.

Television Coverage

SD Channel 408 BT Sports 1 from 1945
HD Channel 430 BT Sports 1 from 1945

Info courtesy of Lowerwatha who is at the dentist hoping not to lose a tooth!

This is all I can find on Castres at the moment, the list of players from whom the matchday 23 will presumably be selected:


Discover the 30 Olympians selected by our staff for the reception of Exeter Chiefs this Saturday, December 10 at 9:00 p.m. at the Pierre Fabre stadium on behalf of the 1st day of the Champions Cup!

Forwards: Tierney, Guerrois, Hounkpatin, Guillamon, Tichit, Barlot, Humbert, Colonna, Nakarawa, Staniforth, Hannoyer, Maravat, Delaporte, Babillot, Ardron, De Crespigny, Raisuqe, Kornath

3/4: Doubrère, Blanc, Kockott, Botica, L. Le Brun, Séguret, Zeghdar, Combezou, Nakosi, Palis, Chabouni, Dumora

Very good squad, I'm optimistic of getting a result out there. Hope LCD, Jacques and Jannes are fit for next week, we could do with their abrasiveness.

Apart from Botica I don't recognise many names in the Castre squad.

Castre Olpmpique

Looking at the Top14 table for a bit of inspiration, but it's not helped. There's just 4 points seperating 5th to 12th, with Castres sitting 11th and 6w from 12. A very tight table.
Our squad is looking very close to ideal, so I feel the need to back them up with a confident prediction ... although I could be wrong.
Castres 18 Chiefs 20

In Rob we trust.
By the way - cream on first. There's nothing to debate.

Really hoping we click for this one. Never easy to.win in France but really hopeful. 19- 25 Exe.

Quote:

DumnoniiNomad
Looking at the Top14 table for a bit of inspiration, but it's not helped. There's just 4 points seperating 5th to 12th, with Castres sitting 11th and 6w from 12. A very tight table.

Not sure this helps any, but they were runners-up last year!

Castles 21 Chiefs 28

Bit of realism required here boys. Our scrum will be the key. If we get it right then we have a chance. If it misfires as it has all season ( and much of last) then it’s going to be a very long day at the office. Castres are like Exe on their better days- very much a team larger and better than its constituent parts. However I am encouraged to see the team chosen, and I want to see the boys really give it a lash, win or lose.
Being coldly realistic, having due regard to where we are form wise at present. I think CO 32 Chiefs 12.

Having been in Montpellier on my last trip to France and seeing how well we played then (when expected to lose), I have a bit of confidence so : Castres 20 - 27 Exeter

Castres are unbeaten at home this season. Nakarawa is playing and I expect their scrum to be powerfulIs going to be very cold so may be a lot of handling errors leading to lots of scrums. Not at all confident but will go for Chiefs 32 Castres 30. All fingers and toes are crossed.

We last met in the 2018/19 season losing away and winning convincing at home. They’ve not lost at home this season too, so I’d expect them to be strong tomorrow.
Keeping the faith for a narrow away win
Castred 24 - 27 Chiefs

Castles 19 Chiefs 37

Here goes Castres 18 - 25 Exe ut I could be wrong!

Castres 25 - 19 Chiefs Hope i'm wrong

Will miss Vermullen and Kirsten but will still go for a narrow win Exe 24 v Castres 23.
Good luck lads just hope ref has a good game as well.

A head v heart prediction for me on this one…. Castres 27, chiefs 17 ☹️ hope I’m proved very wrong!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:12:09:18:34:15 by Alain le Chief.

I know nothing about the Castres squad, but we look strong for this game. I expect it to be close so
Castres 18 23 Chiefs

Chiefs 30 Castres 25

27 -24 to the chiefs but who knows, Botica will kick well thats for sure.

Castres 20 Chiefs 21

Castres 24 Chiefs 30

Castres 24 - Chiefs 28

Hope it's a lot warmer in Castre than here! Very much going with our hearts..........
Mrs PC Castre 24 Chiefs 27
PC Castre 18 Chiefs 28
Go Chiefs and good wishes to the Chiefs supporters who made the journey.

No idea really, but with the long trip and home supporters lifting their team, a tough day for Chiefs. Castres 20 Chiefs 14

Castres 25 Chiefs 30

Like most here, I know little of Castres side but we came close last time we were over there when I felt that we had a slightly weaker side out than tonight. Whilst they haven't lost at home this season, that is only 2 matches both against teams close to them in the league at the moment (Pau & Clermont) so I'm not sure that's particularly telling.

On the strength of the side we've named I'm going with Castres 19 Chiefs 26

Castres 21 Chiefs 29 🤞

We all know it’s going to be tough. I do worry about the scrum.

Castres 32 Ex 21

Hope I’m wrong

Castres 22 Chiefs 29

Castres 24 - 27 Exeter

A really tough set of games over the next month that will define our chances of an exciting 2nd half of season. Odds are a home win but want to see Chiefs win . Chiefs 31 Castres 21

Think scrum will cost us. Castrés 30 Chief's 17 Hope I'm wrong though!!

I know I should heed the ‘one match at a time’ but Bulls’ change up team looking pretty impressive against Lyon!

12-12 at HT …….all down to our shocking penalty count because in all honesty Castres haven’t been much of a threat. If we don’t cut these penalties out Castres will kick the win here for sure!!

Castres winning the breakdown is keep then in the match. We need to clear out more clinically and stop Nakarawa and his offloads

Quote:

Alain le Chief
A head v heart prediction for me on this one…. Castres 27, chiefs 17 ☹️ hope I’m proved very wrong!

Oh me of little faith…. Brilliant performance from the boys, glad I was very wrong!

Great win. Some very good performances across the squad. We'll done guys.

Excellent result.

I thought are half backs had very good games tonight, especially Joe with his defence. If we could put that team out every week we would challenge on all fronts

A great win away in Europe (or is it the 🌍), just what we needed.

A wonderful full point haul away in France. A great result and huge boost for the next few weeks. The usual suspects heading up the leader board as below!!
33 Points: Mike the Shirt; Ouch that hurts;
32 Points: Dumnoniinomad; Scottish Chief;
31 Points: Bold Eagle; Cornwall Chief;
30 Points: Rowancroft73;
28 Points: Hankey;
27 Points: Andy15.1; Osmium;
26 points: Lowerwatha;
25 Points: Alain le Chief;
24 Points: Keithbar54;
23 Points: ExTedd Chief; Plympton Chief;
21 Points: Big Chief Little Chief; Cully Chief; Currychef; Ex58; Moosechief; Not Manichean;
20 Points: Chief Firewater; Fisher; Stokecanon;
18 Points: Mrs PC;
17 Points: Ljs399;
16 Points; Lapo;
12 Points: Broken Arrow;
10 Points: Exeterfan;
9 Points: Clalan;
6 Points: Whiptonchief; Seaside Chief;
4 Points: Last of the Beercans; Minuteman
2 Points: Chief Bert;
Bulls at Sandy Park next week. We must be going into this with some confidence! Bulls are joint second in the URC behind Leinster so will be no pushover.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:12:11:11:27:06 by plymptonchief.