It is crunch time in Europe’s premier club tournament, as we enter Round Five of the Euro Cup. The build-up this week may have shone the spotlight on the heavyweight Anglo-French clashes – between Toulouse and Saracens, and Harlequins and ASM Clermont Auvergne – but two other French giants will also be in crucial matches. Defending European champions Toulon host Cardiff Blues in Nice on Saturday, while French champions Castres are at home to Leinster on Sunday. Key pair Rory Kockott and Antonie Claassen will be missing for Castres when they host Leinster. The news is a boost to the Irish province, who could secure a place in the quarterfinals with a game to spare if they win and Northampton fail to come away from Ospreys with a victory. Both South African scrumhalf Kockott and South African-born France international flank Claassen missed Castres’s last match against Bordeaux-Begles in the French Top 14 due to injury. “It’s still a bit too soon for them,” said Castres coach David Darricarrere. Kockott has a calf problem, while Claassen is suffering from a knee injury. South African back row forward Pedrie Wannenburg also looks set to miss the clash due to a thigh problem, […]