Unbeaten for more than a year in their den in the league, i.e. 15 matches in a row, the Tarnais take the opportunity to overtake the Maritimes in the standings and climb to 4th place, with now one point ahead of their victim of the day ( 5th).
Beaten for the sixth time in seven trips since the start of the season, the Rochelais confirm their concerns away from home, a recurring problem since the end of last season.
Yet very prominent for the rest of the match, West twice missed the winning penalty, recalling his failures last season in the European Cup finals and then the Top 14 lost to Toulouse.
Dominators, Ronan O'Gara's men nevertheless led 24-3 after the first 25 minutes, materialized by three tries, including the seventh of the season from Jules Favre, co-top scorer of the Top 14.
Regaining control of the ball, the Tarnais managed to reverse the trend before the break with two tries in less than ten minutes by their wingers Filipo Nakosi and Martin Laveau.
La Rochelle found themselves outnumbered as soon as they returned from the locker room, after the yellow card of their scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow, but still increased their lead thanks to West's foot.
The Castres rear Julien Dumora has just registered a test during the reception in La Rochelle, January 2, 2022 Valentine CHAPUIS AFP
The Castres have yet once again managed to come back, and even take control for the first time in the match after two tries in three minutes by Florent Vanverberghe and Vilimoni Botitu.
Twenty minutes later, at the very end of the game, West's failures offered them unexpected success and plunged the Rochelais back into doubt after their loss suffered in similar circumstances against Stade Français (25-20).
© 2022 AFP