Eight of the twelve teams from each group will qualify for the final stages at the end of the first round, so the CO is not yet mathematically eliminated from the competition.
But it would take a miracle next week on the lawn of Harlequins, reigning English champions, for the continental adventure to continue.
Affected during the week by the Covid-19, the Tarn club, which has never really made Europe an absolute priority, does it really want to?
The Castres have not been unworthy
The question could once again arise when reading the starting XV lined up Friday evening against Munster, with 13 changes made compared to the one who had dominated Stade Français the previous week in the league (15-9).
As during the first two days, punctuated by two defeats with a defensive bonus against Harlequins (20-18) and Munster (19-13), the second knives from Castres did not however deserve against a great European.
They even tipped in front at the break (7-3) thanks to a try from young fullback Thomas Larregain, used only once this season in the Top 14, coming from a perfectly balanced kicking game by New Zealand opener Ben Botica.
Second home defeat in the European Cup
The proof of an interesting reservoir on the Tarn side, even if Munster tipped the match in their favor in the second act, first thanks to the foot of their young opener Jack Crowley, then to a try in the last moments from the slender third row Gavin Coombes for a 16-13 Irish victory.
This is the second defeat in the space of a month in the European Cup for Castres, in its Pierre-Fabre stadium where Pierre-Henry Broncan’s men have not lost in the league for more than a year. .
A series that the CO, currently 3rd in the Top 14, will have plenty of time to extend, now that they have little to hope for from their European campaign.
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