Former Western Province speedster Christian Ambadiang scored a decisive try to made an unbelievable try-saving deal with to spoil Owen Farrell’s High 14 debut.
Former England captain Farrell missed out on a successful begin at new membership Racing 92 as Castres scored with the final play of the sport to safe a 31-28 win on the opening day of the High 4 season on Saturday.
Farrell, who performed 112 instances for England and had spent his total skilled profession with Saracens earlier than his summer season transfer, solely needed to wait 10 minutes earlier than notching his first factors for his new membership, changing a attempt by compatriot Henry Arundell.
Farrell transformed one other three tries, together with one from Maxime Baudonne two minutes from time as Racing clawed again 12 factors within the final 10 minutes and put themselves inside attain of a powerful away victory.
Nevertheless, two penalty misses from kicks he would possibly usually nail, nonetheless left Racing weak. A final minute piece of brilliance the house aspect’s new Cameroonian wing Ambadiang snatched the win for Castres.
In all probability probably the greatest attempt saving tackles you’ll ever see. Christian Ambadiang from Castres did this! Wow! pic.twitter.com/S05FLwekaH
— Rugby Bits (@RugbyBits) September 8, 2024
One other excessive profile import, former Scotland captain Stuart Hogg, additionally ended on the dropping aspect when his Montpellier crew misplaced 26-22 at dwelling to Lyon.
Hogg did notch his first attempt for Montpellier however final season’s high try-scorer Baptiste Couilloud additionally opened his account as Lyon managed to win on the street in spherical one – one thing they didn’t do in 13 video games final season.
Farrell’s outdated England teammate Manu Tuilagi fractured his hand in pre-season so missed Bayonne’s opener at dwelling to Perpignan. It led to one other final minute victory as Bayonne received 21-19.
The Catalans led for many of the sport due to the boot of Italian worldwide Tomasso Allan however a 50-metre penalty from Joris Segonds received the sport for the Basques.
Clermont loved a snug win as they hammered guests Pau 39-7 with former Australia lock Rob Simmons scoring the second of their 5 tries.
In Saturday’s late sport, final 12 months’s runners-up Bordeaux-Begles hammered Stade Francais 46-26 on the Stade Chaban Delmas.
In a repeat of final season’s semi-final, which UBB received 22-20, the house aspect had been shortly on high with Nicolas Depoortere scoring two of their six tries and worldwide wing Damian Penaud scoring one other.
© Agence France-Presse
Picture: BackpagePix
