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Watch: Jack Nowell's return sparks Exeter by slicing Castres to bits

Jack Nowell crosses the try line against Castres. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

The return of Jack Nowell from a hamstring injury after two months didn’t take long to have an impact, with the England international slicing Castres to bits inside the first five minutes.

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Nowell, playing at fullback, took a sniping run from the ruck base, breaking the line by running around some tight five forwards before swerving through no less than three Castres defenders with some sharp line running.

He picked up man-of-the-match honours for his performance, finishing with 139 running metres on 13 carries, with one try and eight defenders beaten.

Exeter delivered their most complete performance on the European stage this year, downing Castres 34-12 with impressive performances from Nowell and Henry Slade, while Joe Simmonds offered youthful exuberance playing flyhalf and scored his first try of the season after a miraculous offload from inside centre Ollie Devoto.

Exeter’s backs that clicked into gear with Nowell’s return, proving too much for a 14-man Castres side after reserve prop Tudor Stroe was red-carded midway through the second-half. Although Exeter had a comfortable lead and control of the match at that point.

The win kept Exeter’s slim qualification hopes alive to set up a do-or-die clash against in-form Munster at Thomond Park next week. Exeter will have to deny Munster a bonus point or win with a maximum five points to prevent them from winning the Pool.

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In other results, Saracens beat Lyon to take complete control of Pool 3, and while Glasgow beat Cardiff, their fate will hinge on other results next week to qualify as a ‘next best’ seed.

Rugby World Cup city guide – Oita:

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J
JW 3 hours ago
Razor's 2024 All Blacks Christmas wish list

Razor isn't a grinch to ask for two wins against SA, and if he was to ask for two, those would be meaningless if the record is still lost. After SA come to Eden Park the game he'll most ask to be gift wrapped is Eden Park's Bledisloe Cup.


He's also already got Mo'unga I'd say, what he'd be asking of Robinson (or whoever takes over) is that the rules are bent to all his inclusion without first representing Canterbury. Razor will need a lot of good will spirit heading his own way if he selects Mo'unga to start in July against France.

When a Dupont-less, understrength B-team French outfit heads over to Aotearoa in July for a highly anticipated series down under, nothing less than a 3-0 sweep will suffice for the All Blacks. 

You aren't very good at sneaking a look at what's in the Xmas hamper around you Henry? If Toulouse somehow fluff one of their knockout games they will be able to tour (only players in the Final are excluded) and it will basically be Dupont's Toulouse versus all of New Zealand in July. They will be VERY hard to beat.


The old Christmas excitement gets the best of everybody. Personally I think Razor would be saving up backline wish for some creativity and spark till next Xmas. Mostly he'll wanting to stay in the good books and for fans to pay attention next year.

It seems like the idea of Ardie Savea moving to openside flanker is no longer on the table, and World Breakthrough 15’s Player of the Year Wallace Sititi seems to have locked down the number six jersey.

Ardie was selected as an openside flanker against France, two games ago. Dalton Papali'i is the incumbent though and while the jersey number is largely irrelevant, he might still want somebody to stand out in the 6 jersey next year.


It would be my own wish that Ardie is asked to be selected at 7 again, and play like a 7, though. I really hope that no one stands out in the 6 jersey for Razor though, so he's forced to think creatviely and move Scott Barrett there lol

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