Urdapilleta makes the difference, Ramos trembles
The breathtaking end of the match from Urdapilleta, the power of Staniforth but also the failures against the poles of Ramos: find our tops and flops after the victory of Castres over Toulouse (24-18).
TOPS
Benjamin Urdapilleta, a brilliant finish
Like his team, he struggled to get his game started. Not always very fair in his kicking game, he has however slightly increased in power. His second period was simply gigantic. It is first of all he who finds this ultra-decisive 50/22 at the 76e minute. After the throw-in, he inherited the ball and played perfectly on foot along the line on his Fijian winger Nakosi who then passed to Dumora for the decisive try. To this must be added an almost faultless against the poles (4/5). The Argentinian was the big man of the evening on the Castres side.
Filipo Nakosi comes out of his box
The Fijian winger released a performance at odds with his Argentinian scrum-half. He was first widely illustrated in the first period by multiplying the overflows while regularly attacking the opposing ball carrier. With his 85 meters gained (third best total of the match), he was a real poison for the Toulouse defense before fading slightly in the second half. A little torpor from which he emerged at the best of times. His pass after contact for Dumora in the very last moments allows Castres to validate his ticket for the final next Friday.
Tom Staniforth, that mover
Huge game from the Australian second line. Impressive in the rucks, he made his Toulouse counterparts go through hell throughout the match. Over the whole game, he totaled 25 meters gained, that is to say five times more than the Arnold brothers combined! If he sometimes missed a few tackles, his slaughter on the ground and his power with the ball in hand were oh so precious assets for Pierre-Henry Broncan’s men.
Romain Ntamack will have tried everything
Especially in the second half where his superb try is registered in the 47e minute allows Toulouse to return to a small point. He caused danger in attack, completing 100% of his 10 passes and gaining a total of 92 yards. A successful, unrewarded performance. He was also the first to slip into the locker room at the final whistle. Proof of a frustration as palpable as it is understandable.
FLOPS
Thomas Ramos, imprecise at the worst of times
The Toulouse back gradually died out in this semi-final. First in the leg and skilful both in the game and on the foot, he did not experience the same radiance when he returned from the locker room. He even misses two very important attempts against the poles. The first after Romain Ntamack’s try (47th) and the second on a penalty at 73e minute that would have allowed the Stadistes to regain the advantage at the best of times. Two failures that are worth a lot when it comes to doing the accounts.
Juan Cruz Mallia, too invisible
The Argentinian winger struggled to shine on Friday. Offensive first where he was never really able to create a dangerous situation. It is no coincidence that the Toulouse game tended to lean to the left, on the wing covered by Matthis Lebel. Defensively, he has not always succeeded in his tackles and is overwhelmed by Julien Dumora’s try at the very end of the match.
A questionable arbitration
If there is not much to reproach the refereeing body for in the second act, it is difficult to say the same for the first. First there is this yellow card awarded to Rory Arnold for a dangerous tackle that could have been worth the red. Mr. Cayre then decides to close his eyes to another high tackle, signed Charles Fauminua this time. Finally, he did not give the try to Geoffrey Palis, just before the break, believing that the latter had not exerted sufficient pressure on the ball when flattening. On slow motion, this judgment seems very questionable.