Gloucester Rugby showcased grit and flair in their Investec Champions Cup opener, defeating Castres Olympique 34-14 at Kingsholm. The game was tightly contested in the first half, ending 14-14 with tries from Gloucester’s Freddie Thomas and Will Trenholm matched by Castres’ Vuate Karawalevu and Loris Zalentello.
In the second half, Gloucester took control with two crucial penalties from fly-half Ross Byrne and a standout double try performance from substitute Charlie Atkinson, who scored with undeniable swagger to seal a bonus point victory.
Jack Tozer offers a detailed assessment of each player’s contribution:
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15 Ben Redshaw – 6
Started with energy from full-back but had to leave injured before half-time.
14 Will Joseph – 6
Shifted to center due to injury but showed flashes of his explosive pace before an injury forced his exit.
13 Max Llewellyn – N/A
Sidelined early with a knee injury, missing much of the contest.
12 Seb Atkinson – 6
Faced a strong French defense, limiting his impact but still made valuable contributions.
11 Ollie Thorley – 6
Constantly threatening with his pace and footwork, energizing the team despite not scoring.
10 Ross Byrne – 7
A flawless kicking display, including two critical penalties, complemented by sharp passing, guiding Gloucester to victory.
9 Tomos Williams – 8
Exceptional vision with three 50/22 kicks and precise delivery. His leadership set the tone amid Castres’ physical intensity.
1 Val Rapava Ruskin – 7
Dominated scrums and was invaluable both offensively and defensively until his substitution late in the second half.
2 Seb Blake – 3
Struggled with lineout executions, contributing to Gloucester’s challenges in maintaining possession.
3 Afo Fasogbon – 6
Imposed his physical presence, mitigating Castres’ efforts to control the forward battle.
4 Freddie Thomas – 6
Clinched Gloucester’s opening try, though overall lineout inconsistency hampered forward momentum.
5 Matias Alemanno – 5
Unable to secure stable lineouts amidst Castres’ disruption.
6 Deian Gwynne – 5
Workmanlike with a busy game, but was temporarily sin-binned following a controversial eye-gouging inquiry.
7 Lewis Ludlow – 7
Delivered a robust display to help Gloucester prevail in the physical exchanges; his leadership evident.
8 Will Trenholm – 6
Scored a vital try and continues to cement his position, showing resilience despite finishing with a minor injury.
Replacements:
16 Jack Innard – 5
17 Dian Bleuler – 5
18 Ciaran Knight – 5
19 Cam Jordan – 5
20 Josh Basham – 5
21 Mikey Austin – 5
22 Charlie Atkinson – 8
The standout substitute who injected life into the match with two dazzling tries, demonstrating Gloucester’s depth and flair.
23 Rob Russell – 6
Brought energy and strong defense off the bench, making a notable hit to dismantle Castres’ restart play.
Gloucester’s comprehensive team effort, combined with moments of individual brilliance, especially from the likes of Williams, Byrne, and Atkinson, secured a confident winning start in Europe. Despite some injury setbacks and lineout challenges, the squad showed strong character and versatility, setting an optimistic tone for the season ahead.