Castres 24-24 Leinster: Leinster settle for draw
Last Updated: 21/01/17 2:28pm
Leinster were held to a 24-24 draw by Castres on Friday leaving them facing an anxious wait to see if they have secured a home Champions Cup quarter-final tie.
The three-time champions, already assured of a last-eight spot, finished top of Pool 4 with 23 points but they can still be pipped for a home tie in the knockout round should fellow Irish side Connacht win big at Toulouse on Sunday.
Leinster got off to a great start roaring into a 10-0 lead with Jonny Sexton kicking a penalty in the ninth minute. Barely 60 seconds later, Robbie Henshaw scored the first of his two tries when he picked up a loose ball near touch on halfway and ran unopposed across field to touch down.
In fits and starts, Castres dragged themselves into the game. Leinster were penalised for holding on - and fly-half Julian Dumora rejected a shot at goal in favour of a kick to the corner - only for Devin Toner to claim the lineout. But
the clearance was weak, and - after Castres' forwards had softened up Leinster's defence, scrum-half Antoine Dupont danced through a hole in the line to score.
Rory O'Loughlin thought he had won a footrace to score in the corner a minute later - only to be denied by the TMO - and Dumora levelled the scores on 30 minutes after Leinster were penalised for not releasing following a dangerous break from David Smith.
The winger would not be denied in the 35th minute after a smart run and a smarter offload from centre Florian Vialelle gave Smith just enough room to touch down in the corner.
With both Sexton and Isa Nacewa subbed due to injury, replacement Ross Byrne took over kicking duties, but fired a penalty wide from near the halfway line after the half-time hooter.
Castres beefed up their front row at half-time, replacing props Antoine Tichit and Daniel Kotze with Mihaita Lazar and Damien Tussac - but the big new men could only watch as, after a solid Leinster scrum, Henshaw scored his second try under the posts three minutes into the second period. Byrne converted to level the scores.
The game swung again in the 53rd minute, when following phase after phase, Smith scored his second try, and Castres' third, at the base of the posts. Dumora converted to make it 24-17.
But a yellow card for Pierre Berard for hands in the ruck a matter of metres from the line 10 minutes later gave the Dublin side the perfect attacking platform. They made no mistake, and Dan Leavy crashed over from close range.
Byrne converted to take the scores to 24-24 with less than 15 minutes remaining.
With less than five minutes remaining and pressure mounting, Mick McCarthy was sent to the bin after Leinster conceded a series of penalties near their own line.
But the hosts could not make their brief numerical advantage count.
