Northampton Saints
Castres Olympique
Call Santiago Arata whatever you like – a one-man showreel, a box of tricks – but he is certainly the man Northampton Saints must stop if they want to reach the Investec Champions Cup semifinals.
The Uruguayan scrumhalf will likely start for Castres Olympique when they travel to Franklin Garden’s on Saturday, after they beat Benetton 39-37 in the Round of 16.
He was in red-hot form for Castres in the Top 14 two weeks ago. His try helped Castres beat Toulon 28-26, and former France and Toulouse winger Xavier Garbajosa rhapsodised about his performance to French rugby weekly, Midi Olympique.
“He scored it based on his sheer determination to push the team forward,” he said. “He is a character that drives the players. Never giving up, or going away, that's his way.”
REACHING HIS PEAK
At 28-years-old Arata is at his peak. He has been with Castres since 2020, and he has become a firm favourite with their fans, to such an extent that there was barely a murmur when he overtook France international Rory Kockott as first-choice number nine.
This season he has scored five tries and such was his form that it wasn’t until he signed a contract extension till 2029 that rumours of his move to Toulouse ended.
THE ONE TO WATCH
Arata featured in the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups. In 2019 he helped Uruguay to their maiden win in the competition with their first try in the 30-27 victory over Fiji.
If that isn’t enough to make the Saints sweat, his highlight from Rugby World Cup 2023 was a textbook tackle against Namibia.
It means there will be few gaps around the breakdown to attack, and Saints will leave any open at their peril. There’s enough clips out there to show what a menace he is when he spies a gap, but knowing that is one thing, stopping it is another.
Saints, you have been warned.
Northampton Saints
- Tommy Freeman scored a hattrick last weekend. He made four clean breaks and crossed the gainline with 92% of his carries.
- Henry Pollock won five turnovers last weekend (joint-most). He made the second-most carries (14) for Saints, and scored a try.
- Fin Smith made the second-most kicks in play (14) and the joint-most retained kicks (three) in the Round of 16. Northampton Saints retained seven kicks in total (1st).
Castres Olympique
- Rémy Baget scored two tries and assisted another in the Round of 16. He also won two turnovers.
- Castres Olympique made 138 carries into contact (3rd) last weekend; their gainline success rate was 49.7% (3rd).
- Castres had the most rucks in the opposition 22m (43) last weekend. They had a team territory of 64% (3rd).