Castres came out on top at fortress Stade Pierre-Fabre as Munster lost Round 2 of the Investec Champions Cup by just two points.
Numerous Munster errors hampered flow and momentum and the visitors were unable to capitalise fully on the three yellow cards conceded by the hosts.
Several penalties were given away by Munster in the first half, which ultimately led to two unconverted Castres tries. John Hodnett managed to get over from the back of the maul before the half time whistle, which Jack Crowley converted.
There were two yellow cards for Castres in the second half to add to Quentin Walcker’s from the first forty, as well as six points from the tee. Hodnett’s second try and conversion by Crowley put Munster within touching distance of winning, but Castres’ second penalty left the final score at 16-14.
Munster conceded five penalties in the first fifteen minutes which set the tone for how the rest of the game played out. Castres put them under huge pressure, resulting in two disallowed tries early on, despite Niall Scannell’s defensive efforts.
The Frenchmen got their reward from relentless attack after Abraham Papali’i powers over the line in the corner, despite efforts from Thaakir Abrahams to stop the grounding. The home side put five points on the board after a difficult conversion was missed from their scrum-half Jeremy Fernandez.
Munster won a penalty just inside the first quarter, but the long-range shot came just short of the posts leaving the visitors trailing, 5-0.
Castres built the phases attacking with pace and energy. They won a penalty just in front of the posts which they took quickly, and Walcker dove over for the French side to get their second try. The conversion from Fernandez went wide, 10-0.
Play stopped as Craig Casey went off due to injury, and within a few minutes of the re-start Brian Gleeson received a high tackle from Castres loosehead prop Walcker for which he is shown a yellow card.
A maul from a Munster lineout led to a great try from Hodnett, as he side stepped his way past two defenders to get five points. Crowley converted bringing Munster with three points of Castres at half-time, 10-7.
Whilst Walcker returned from the sinbin just three minutes after the teams returned to the field, Castres received another yellow card for a deliberate knock-on from Jeffery Palis. Munster had a lineout just 5 metres from the Castres line, but the ball was turned over and the hosts got the scrum.
Munster knocked on a high ball and the home pack won another scrum penalty chose to kick for the posts. Fernandez split the uprights adding the first points of the second half, 13-7.
A second penalty came their way as the match reached the 60 minute mark, but full-back Julien Dumora missed the opportunity to extend the home side’s lead.
It was still all to play for with 15 minutes to go. Crowley kicked the ball into touch with Diarmuid Barron feeding at the lineout. Munster pushed forwards in the resulting maul, but Castres infringed and receive their third yellow card of the game. Nicolas Corato headed off and Munster remained in a good position.
A second lineout went awry but Hodnett muscled over for his second score of the game. Crowley expertly put the ball through the posts and got the conversion putting Munster in the lead with ten minutes to go, 13-14.
This was short-lived as Castres earned a scrum from the restart and turned it into a penalty straight in front of the posts. Out-half Louis le Brun who took the kick which sailed between the posts leaving the final score 16-14.
Munster leave Castres with a losing bonus point.
Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams (Rory Scannell ’58); Jack Crowley, Craig Casey (Paddy Patterson ’31) ; Dian Bleuler (Dave Kilcoyne ’22, Stephen Archer ‘75), Niall Scannell (Diarmuid Barron ’54), Stephen Archer (Oli Jager ’54); Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (C); Peter O’Mahony (Tom Ahern ’51), John Hodnett (Alex Kendellen ’70), Brian Gleeson (Jack O’Donoghue ’48).
Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Dave Kilcoyne, Oli Jager, Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen, Paddy Patterson, Rory Scannell, Jack O’Donoghue.
Tries: John Hodnett (2)
Cons: Jack Crowley (2)
Castres Investec Champions Cup Round 2 Round-up
Brian Gleeson, who made his 11th appearance for Munster and first of the season, started his first match in the Investec Champions Cup.
