Five-try Castres cruise past rotated Edinburgh

Champions Cup

Castres 33 (5)

Tries: Ambadiang, Zarantonello, Ardron, Vargas, Botitu Cons: Popelin 4

Edinburgh 0 (0)

A much-changed Edinburgh side shipped five tries in an Investec Champions Cup drubbing by Castres in the south of France.

Head coach Sean Everitt made 11 changes from the side that started last weekend’s impressive home victory against Toulon as he prioritised the forthcoming 1872 Cup derbies with Glasgow Warriors.

And Edinburgh were unable to replicate that level of performance in their second match of the competition.

They had plenty possession and territory in the first half, but were ineffective in attack and went into half-time five points behind after Castres wing Christian Ambadiang dived over in the corner.

Loris Zarantonello, Tyler Ardron, Adam Vargas and Vilimoni Botitu then crossed after the break in a dominant home display.

Edinburgh hooker Ewan Ashman thought he had gone over under the posts for a late consolation, but the try was ruled out for a knock-on earlier in the move as the visitors failed to score a single point.

Both teams have won one and lost one in their opening two matches in Pool 2.

The much-changed Edinburgh outfit never got going, but the nature in which the conceded the first try will frustrate Everitt.

Cammy Scott launched a kick dead, gifting possession back to the French side and soon after, Matt Currie knocked on under no pressure in his own 22.

From the resulting scrum, Ambadiang stepped past one defender and found his way to the whitewash.

Edinburgh could have been ahead at that point. They’d crossed the whitewash through Piers O’Conor, only for the centre to be held up, and had thrown the ball away when there was an opportunity to score out wide.

Only 5-0 down, Everitt would have felt his side had a chance but the second-half was about as one-sided as it gets.

Constantly camped in their own half, Edinburgh succumbed to wave after wave of Castres attack.

It took seven minutes for the hosts to score, as hooker Zarantonello crashed over at the back of the maul.

Five minutes later, Edinburgh gifted Castres their third when substitute Ewan Ashman launched a throw over his jumper on his own 5m line, with Tyler Ardron gleefully crossing.

O’Conor was then sent to the bin for a high tackle and Castres inflicted further punishment, scoring quick tries through Vargas and player of the match Botitu while Edinburgh were down to 14 men.

Ashman’s try being ruled out was only further salt in the wound on a bruising day for Edinburgh, but they will hope to welcome plenty key men back for the upcoming 1872 Cup double header.

Castres: Palis, Ambadiang, Bottin, Goodhue, Vargas; Popelin, Fernandez; Walcker, Zarantonello, Azar, Maravat, Staniforth, Delaporte (c), Ardron, Papalii.

Replacements: Durand-Pradere, Guerois-Galisson, Corato, Nakarawa, Cope, Doubrere, Herve, Karawalevu.

Edinburgh: Brown, McCann, M Currie, O’Conor, Wells, Scott, Vellacott (c); Venter, Morris, O Blyth-Lafferty, Hunter-Hill, Young, McConnell, Douglas, Dodd.

Replacements: Ashman, Jones, Hill, Boyle, Watson, Shiel, Lang, Goosen.

Referee: Andrea Piardi