Dickinson desperate for Saints to claim revenge against Castres

The big No.8 was in the starting line-up in October, when Northampton fell to a 19-13 defeat at Stade Pierre Antoine.

Jim Mallinder’s men had their chances to win that game, dominating possession but only finding their way over the line once, through Dylan Hartley.

That defeat looks to have cost Saints dear in their bid to make the quarter-finals, as they are currently 10th in the list of points scored during the pool stages.

They will be hoping either Leinster or Saracens slip up this weekend, but Dickinson is purely focused on turning the tables on Castres.

“In some ways they kind of caught us cold and we didn’t turn up, but in other ways we felt quite secure,” said the 28-year-old, reflecting on his side’s game in France.

“They managed to wear us down and came away with the victory, which was disappointing at the time and it couldn’t have been a worse start in some respects.

“It’s always tough going down there but if we can take some sort of revenge this weekend that will be a step forward for us.

“The game means everything. Qualification is out of our hands in some respects, but we’ve got to focus on trying to get a bonus point.

“We can then sit back at the weekend and hope for the best, but that will be out of our control.”