Sunday 7 December 2014 16:19, UK
Wasps have kept their European Rugby Champions Cup hopes alive with a bonus point victory over Castres.
The 32-17 victory in France puts Wasps a single point behind group leaders Harlequins and Leinster, ending Castres’ chances of progression.
Wasps’ four-try performance means they can still qualify from Pool 2 but their fate remains in Harlequins and Leinster’s hands.
Rob Miller got the visitors off to the perfect start, latching onto Tom Varndell’s pass and touching down. Castres were straight back in the game after recycling the ball quickly and helping hooker Mathieu Bonello over.
Nathan Hughes raised the tempo of proceedings by racing clear of three Castres players, taking advantage of Ashley Johnson’s handiwork, to go over in the corner but Andy Goode couldn’t convert. Rory Kockott failed to close the gap by hitting the crossbar then missing recklessly with two penalties. Goode was perfect with his next penalty putting Wasps 15-7 in front.
Simmering
But a Castres line-out and a physical drive over the line got them back into the game in an action-packed first half. Remi Lamerat scored, owing to a maul that shoved Wasps backwards.
The opening 40 minutes, with both sides battling for Champions Cup survival after two consecutive losses, ended as tensions simmered with Johnson and Bonello going face-to-face.
A gilt-edged chance for Castres to overtake Wasps was spoiled in the opening moments of the second half as Sitiveni Sivivatu knocked on with the visitors stretched and vulnerable – but the Frenchmen responded by going 17-15 ahead with Julien Dumora’s penalty.
Sivivatu’s afternoon worsened by conceding a penalty try and finding himself in the sin-bin – he watched as Wasps put together a bonus point try as Michael Tagicakibau went over following Alapati Leiua’s delicate pass.
A tetchy and often nervy afternoon ended when Wasps captain James Haskell shut down a late Castres revival with a solid tackle, handing his side a reprieve ahead of Harlequins clash with Leinster.
