Fixtures Edinburgh Men 22/23 Heineken Champions Cup
January 15, 2023 Stade Pierre Fabre
Castres Olympique – logo bleuCastres Olympique
21 - 34 Away
ER-Full-500×500Edinburgh
Live updates Match report
80

That's the win!

A huge win on the road. Bonus point, and a step closer to the knock-outs!
75

Benzo with the clearance

We're under pressure after a brilliant Castres kick, but Bennett does brilliantly to stay in play and clear upfield. The home side will have a lineout in our half.
74

Blair with another!

A brilliant afternoon with the boot for BK. He adds another and maintains a 100% record. Lee-Roy Atalifo comes on for WP Nel.
73

Castres pinged

We'll go for the posts.
70

Edinburgh attacking scrum!

The French side try to play from deep, but a wayward pass gives us a scrum deep in their territory!
69

Castres hold

We're rumbling forward, but the ball is lost in contact by Schoeman. Castres have a scrum on their 22.
67

Hodgson over the ball!

A brilliant turnover from the replacement lock. We're back into Castres territory!
65

Kinghorn extends our lead!

He's having a brilliant afternoon from the tee, adding three points from range.
65

All momentum with Edinburgh!

A brilliant exit, and we force Castres into touch. From the resulting lineout we win a penalty, and point to the sticks.
62

BENJI BPPPPP!!!!!!!

Vellacott scores, and it's a carbon copy of Hutch's try!! He darts clear from the base of the ruck, and releases the ball in the tackle before regathering to score. GET IN. We're back in front, and the bonus point is secured. BK adds the extras.
61

Nasty head knock

Arata with a horrible knock here. He goes to clear out Ritchie at a ruck, but hits him head first. Hopefully he's ok. Our scrum in the Castres 22.
59

Castres offside

Good chance for us to get into Castres territory here! Hodgson is on for Sykes.
58

Aaaaah BK!!

He intercepts! But the wet conditions take their toll and he can't keep his feet. We'll have a scrum though, just inside our half.
56

Yes Jamie!!

Another crucial turnover from the co-captain, winning the ball cleanly at the ruck. Immelman hooofs it clear! Castres will rebuild from their own half.
54

Edinburgh pinged

The whistle is blown for Blain taking the man in the air while chasing a high ball. Castres go to the corner.
51

Immelman try saver.

Confusion in the defence. Jamie Ritchie jackals well and we think a penalty is coming, but the ball squirms loose. Raisuque pounces and wins possession with the goal line there for the taking, but Immelman gets back to win the ball in the tackle.
50

Vellacott into the fray

He replaces Chico. Castres will have a lineout on our 10 metre.
49

Castres scrum

It's all got a bit frantic in the rain here. Savala does well with under the high ball a couple of times, however the play is stopped with WP knocking on. Castres put in on half way.
46

CAMMY HUTCH YESSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!

What a try!! It's smart and powerful from the North Berwick man. He trucks forward well, releases the ball after he's tackled, before going again to power over. Brilliant stuff. Blair adds the extras to maintain a 100% record with the boot. All level again! We're still a man down.
44

Castres not rolling away

We're marching down the pitch now! Into the corner we go.
43

Edinburgh scrum

It's a forward pass from the hosts. We'll have a scrum on half way.
41

Skinner!

He pinches the lineout! A huge play. We manage to clear our lines.
41

Edinburgh offside

We're caught ahead of the kicker. Castres go to the corner.
40

Back underway

Urdapilleta resumes proceedings, big 40 needed.
40

Half-time

An entertaining half comes to an end with the Edinburgh men trailing.
38

Castres try.

Hounkpatin can't be stopped from close range. Urdapilleta adds the extras to extend the lead.
37

Cherry carded

The hooker is sent to the bin before half time. Castres pushing on our line.
35

Castres come close

It's a real let off. Urdapilleta kicks a cross field penalty, and Rasuque looks for all the world like he's going to score. He catches the ball initially, but spills it when he's trying to get the ball down. We clear, but Castres are on the attack and have another penalty advantage.
33

Out on the full

Chico's clearing kick is out on the full - Castres will have an attacking lineout in our half.
32

Defence holds

Castres are trying to stretch our defence, but we hold firm and force the ball into touch. Lineout on our 10 metre line.
29

BIG BILL MATA!!!!

YES BILL!! He scored against Castres last time out, and he's done it again! It's not a glamorous try, but he's a difficult man to stop when he's picking and going from that range. Kinghorn adds the extras from wide. All square again!
27

Looking to rebuild

We're back on the front foot, winning the territorial battle. Another break from Benzo, and we're into the 5 metre with a penalty advantage!
23

Castres get their second

Seguret scores, proving too powerful for the defence. He cuts back with the goal line defence scrambling, and there's no stopping him. Extras added from in front of the sticks.
21

Castres attacking scrum.

Our lineout is scrappy, and Shiel knocks on the tap down. Castres with a huge attacking chance here.
20

HUGE defence!!

The pack fronts up brilliantly, stopping the Castres maul and goal line attack. We'll have a tough exit, our lineout on the 5.
18

High tackle

Bill clips the Castres scrum half high, the hosts go to the corner.
16

Kick-off over hit

Savala's restart bounces over the Castres defenders, and goes dead behind the line. Castres will have a scrum on the 50.
14

Castres try.

The hosts strike with the extra man. Urdapilleta grubbers through, and Raisuque wins the race to get there. Extras added, we're all square.
13

Blair into the bin

Castres burst into life, and come so close to scoring. Blair kills the ball illegally. Castres attacking our line with a man advantage.
10

DAVE CHERRRRRRYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How did he get through there!? The maul is rumbling with a penalty advantage, and Dave Cherry somehow wriggles through to score! Blair adds the extras. A great start for the men from the capital.
8

Scrum pen!

Great work from the front row. We go into the corner!
7

Attacking scrum

Castres infringe at the maul, we'll have a scrum on the Castres 5 metre line.
5

So, so close

It's a brilliant attacking move, with Bennett scything through, but the pass to Blain is just infront of the winger. So nearly a try, but we're on the front foot!
4

Schoe over the ball!

A clean steal from the loosehead! The big man wins the ball, and we break upfield. Blair breaks clear up the wing and kicks ahead, it's gathered well by the Castres defender but we force him into touch. Attacking lineout on the Castres 22!
3

Out on the full

Immelman makes a big carry up the middle. We play with quick ball and get out wide, but Bennett's kick is out on the full. Castres lineout on half way.
2

Physical start

A huge hit from Sykes and we win the ball back! Some big shots from either side. Castres eventually regain possession, but we're keeping the hosts camped in their half.
1

Castres scrum

We do well to get in the air and tap back the kick-off, but drop the loose ball. Castres have the put in at the first scrum.
1

Kick off

Blair gets us underway!
12:43

Late changes

We're forced into four changes ahead of kick-off. Luan de Bruin, Boan Venter, Paddy Harrison and Emiliano Boffelli aren't fit and haven't travelled. WP Nel and Jack Blain start. Lee-Roy Atalifo, Nick Auterac, Tom Cruse and Nathan Sweeney come on the bench.
12:41

Welcome!

Good afternoon, and welcome to the Galbraith Match Centre for today's Heineken Champions Cup clash against Castres Olympique. We'll be bringing you whistle to whistle updates from the Stade Pierre-Fabre.