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Munster Rugby celebrate a try during their bonus-point win over Gloucester Rugby
Munster Rugby and Castres Olympique will face off in European Rugby for the 15th time on Sunday at Thomond Park, with no clubs having met as often. The action gets underway from 13:00 GMT, with coverage on BT Sport and beIN SPORTS.
- Munster are unbeaten in their last seven clashes against Castres (W6, D1), including a 45-point victory in Round 6 last season which was their biggest winning margin against TOP 14 opposition.
- Castres come into Sunday’s game on the back of a win against Exeter Chiefs and will be aiming to win consecutive matches in Europe for the first time since winning three-in-a-row during the 2012/13 pool stage.
- Munster have won their last 10 home games in the competition, picking up a bonus point in each of their last three such pool stage matches.
- Castres have won just four of 24 previous fixtures against Irish opposition (D2, L18) with all four of those wins coming at home.
- Munster have conceded the fewest (20) and won the joint most turnovers so far this season (17).
- Munster have conceded more penalties (27) than any other side to date.
- Munster captain, Peter O’Mahony, is one of three players to steal three opposition lineouts in the opening two rounds.
- No forward has beaten more defenders this season than Castres’ Steve Mafi who has beaten 10 from just six carries.
📣 TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT
The Munster side to face Castres Olympique at Thomond Park in the Champions Cup on Sunday afternoon has been named.
There are two changes to the side that defeated Edinburgh last weekend.
Full details > > https://t.co/eP2tBjn2rF #MUNvCO #SUAF 🔴 pic.twitter.com/lKHreqbdKK
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) December 7, 2018
Munster Rugby scrum-half Conor Murray on the attack in the Heineken Champions Cup
Munster Rugby put in a battling performance against a stubborn Castres Olympique side to win 30-5 at Thomond Park, leaving them top of Heineken Champions Cup Pool 2 with 11 points.
A stray Castres kick in the early stages meant Munster had a scrum inside the half of the visitors, and they pushed their way inside the 22 before a penalty was given by referee JP Doyle, who had a busy afternoon. JJ Hanrahan’s first kick at goal went straight between the posts.
It was all Munster and they won another scrum penalty inside the Castres 22 ten minutes later, which Hanrahan smashed over again.
The first half ended 6-0 with Castres not touching the ball in the Munster 22, and the dominance from the home side continued into the second half.
Oh Conor Murray, that is special! 😍
The Munster scrum-half hits the gap and sends CJ Stander over to make things comfortable for the Irish side…
What an offload! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/pcq4xat50V
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) December 9, 2018
An attacking scrum gave Conor Murray excellent field position and a bit of space, and with that he found Rory Scannell who battled his way over the try line, increasing the lead further.
Hanrahan then slotted over another penalty after a scrappy sequence of play that summed up the match, but Munster finally clicked into gear and got their second try on 67 minutes.
Murray was again the catalyst, beating his man, before giving a delightful offload to CJ Stander who powered over the try line.
Munster's support lines are a thing of beauty 👌
Just look how many options are open to the ball carrier en route to this JJ Hanrahan try.
A solid showing for Munster who now have a two-point buffer at the top of Pool 2 👊 pic.twitter.com/EKLQCaNFNF
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) December 9, 2018
Munster then managed to put together another delightful sequence of passes with five minutes to play, resulting in Hanrahan – who was awarded Heineken Man of the Match – stretching over for try No.3.
Laveau did score a consolation try for Castres but Urdapilleta could not convert as Doyle blew up on an attritional affair.
The sides will do battle again next week in Stade Pierre Fabre, with all still to play for in Heineken Champions Cup Pool 2.
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