Jim Mallinder has in a few weeks gone from being favourite to lead England into the 2015 World Cup to having to salvage Northampton's season from the wreckage of a Heineken Cup campaign that is the exact opposite of a year ago, when the Saints had won three out of three.
Defeat by mediocre opposition on Saturday left Saints at the bottom of their pool. Three victories in their remaining matches may be enough to secure a place in the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals, but while just a few months ago Northampton appeared a model of stability compared with England, fault lines are appearing.
The majority of their England players have yet to rediscover their zest of last season. The flanker Tom Wood is an exception but he followed the previous week's red card at Leicester with a trip to the sin-bin 18 minutes from the end. Wood saw yellow for encroaching as Castres rolled a maul on the Northampton 22.
"It is the sort of decision we are getting at the moment," Mallinder said. "It was always going to be a difficult game, given our injuries and suspensions, but Tom's yellow card came at a crucial time and ithurt us. I cannot say I understood all the referee's decisions and I don't know what to say."
Wood has been touted as a potential captain of new England, but two cards in successive weeks have made him seem, to some, about as attractive as a Republican presidential candidate. "Anyone could have been penalised at that maul and if anyone has seen the way Tom has been playing, he is putting his hand up to play for England and be captain," Mallinder said. "His discipline is not an issue and he has leadership credentials: he sets a tremendous example."
Mallinder was less enthusiastic about the England wing Chris Ashton, who was absent as he served the first of a four‑match ban for hair-pulling, having spent the past few weeks fielding questions about whether Ashton would be swallow‑diving his way to Saracens. "We only want players who want to be here."
The next three Premiership rounds will be crucial for Northampton, who are sixth in the table, before they lose their England contingent for the Six Nations. "We can now prioritise," said Mallinder. "We have given some young English academy players experience in the Heineken Cup and that will be good for us in the long run. It hurts at the moment."
The Northampton captain, Dylan Hartley, cursed questionable refereeing decisions at Munster and Castres. "They did not go our way," said the England hooker. "We have to focus on the Premiership and have pride in the shirt."
Castres Teulet; Martial, Sanchou (Bonnefond, 74), Bai, Evans; Tales (Bernard, 29), Kockott (Lacrampe, 66); Coetzee (Peikrishvili, 60), Rallier (Bonello, 57), Ducalcon (Kruger, 79), Murray, Ortega, Diarra, Malonga (Caballero, 66), Masoe (capt).
Tries Malonga, Martial 2, Diarra Cons Teulet 3 Pens Teulet 5.
Northampton Foden; Artemyev, Pisi, May, Elliott; Myler (Lamb, 57), Dickson (Roberts, 66); Tonga'uiha (Waller, 61), Hartley (capt; Haywood, 67), Doran-Jones, Sorenson, Lawes (Craig, 67), Wood (Ingle, 79), Nutley, Manoa.
Tries Elliott 2, Sorenson, Manoa Con Myler.
Sin-bin Myler 38, Wood 62.
Referee J Lacey (Ireland). Attendance 6,670.
