Pool 4 leaders Munster know that a bonus point win over Castres Olympique will guarantee top spot and a record 17th European Cup quarter-final, with the possibility of home advantage to boot.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP – POOL 4: Sunday, January 21
MUNSTER (1st) v CASTRES OLYMPIQUE (3rd), Thomond Park, 1pm (live Sky Sports Action/beIN Sports/Newstalk/highlights TG4)
Team News: For the first time this season, an unchanged Munster starting XV has been named for Sunday’s must-win Champions Cup final round clash with Castres Olympique at Thomond Park.
Following last weekend’s 34-30 defeat to Racing 92 in Paris, Peter O’Mahony has – as expected – recovered from an ankle knock to captain the side. Hooker Niall Scannell returns from the rib injury he suffered against Ulster on New Year’s Day to feature among the replacements.
The all-Ireland international back-line remains intact once again with Simon Zebo, Andrew Conway and Keith Earls, who scored a superb try from outside the 22 against Racing, forming the back-three. Rory Scannell partners Chris Farrell in midfield, while Ian Keatley and Conor Murray continue as the starting half-backs.
The front row is made up of Dave Kilcoyne, Rhys Marshall and Stephen Archer with the almost ever-present Billy Holland partnered by Jean Kleyn, the scorer of Munster’s opening try in Paris, in the second row. The pack is completed by a back row of skipper O’Mahony, Chris Cloete and CJ Stander.
Niall Scannell, James Cronin and John Ryan make up the front row replacements, Darren O’Shea and Jack O’Donoghue complete the forward reserves, and Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan and Alex Wootton provide the back-line cover.
A returning to winning ways against in-form Castres in Limerick would see Munster advance to the Champions Cup knockout stages for a record 17th time. Scrum half Murray said: “We’ve been here a couple of times (needing to win the final pool game) , haven’t we? I think for us as a group, this is our own team. We know we are in control of everything, it’s a good place to be.
“You are coming back home to Thomond, it’s going to be a massive crowd, a European game, and you are fully in control of your own destiny. That’s exactly where we would have wanted to be at the start of the year. It’s a big week. We played well last week so we are going to remain positive, and drive it on this week, and hopefully it leads to a performance and we lock away a quarter-final.”
Munster v Castres Olympique tickets are available online here, from the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices at Thomond Park and Irish Independent Park or by calling 061 421103.
Meanwhile, Castres head coach Christophe Urios has made six changes to the side that swept Leicester Tigers aside on a 39-0 scoreline, including refreshing the back-line for this crunch trip to Limerick.
Robert Ebersohn and Julien Dumora, who were Castres’ try scorers in their 17-17 draw with Munster in the first round, both return to the inside centre and out-half berths respectively, with Dumora partnering France international Rory Kockott at half-back.
South African centre Ebersohn also takes over the captaincy from Mathieu Babillot, while the fourth change in the back-line sees Samoan David Smith come in on the left wing for Armand Batlle, who touched down twice against Leicester the last day.
Hooker Jody Jenneker and flanker Steve Mafi both slot back in as starters up front, reprising their roles from Castres’ most recent encounter with Munster back in October. German international Damien Tussac will make his third start of the European campaign at tighthead, with Mafi and loosehead Antoine Tichit – both 28 – the only players in the pack aged under 30.
MUNSTER: Simon Zebo; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Rhys Marshall, Stephen Archer, Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland, Peter O’Mahony (capt), Chris Cloete, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, James Cronin, John Ryan, Darren O’Shea, Jack O’Donoghue, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Alex Wootton.
CASTRES OLYMPIQUE: Geoffrey Palis; Kylian Jaminet, Thomas Combezou, Robert Ebersohn (capt), David Smith; Julien Dumora, Rory Kockott; Antoine Tichit, Jody Jenneker, Damien Tussac, Alexandre Bias, Thibault Lassalle, Yannick Caballero, Steve Mafi, Alex Tulou.
Replacements: Kevin Firmin, Tudor Stroe, Daniel Kotze, Victor Moreaux, Baptiste Delaporte, Yohan Domenech, Yohan le Bourhis, Afusipa Taumoepeau.
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Wayne Davies, Dewi Phillips (both Wales)
Television Match Official: Jonathan Mason (Wales)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Munster to win: 1/50; Draw: 50/1; Castres Olympique to win: 20/1
Pre-Match Quotes: Peter O’Mahony (Munster) – “We experienced Castres a couple of months ago in France (when we drew 17-all in the first round). Their set piece is quality. They have a quality lineout and maul, their scrum is massive to their game. They are obviously a team that momentum is a huge factor to the game and it is something that is difficult to stop when they get it.
“The lads will do a lot of video analysis and we know how difficult it is going to be. We are a smaller side and we struggle sometimes with momentum stopping. It’s something we are going to have to address and really put our heads down for this weekend.
“We always go out with the ambition to play rugby and to play ball. Lots of developments dictate what you can and can’t do. We’ll see later in the week what way the weather is, but we will go out on Sunday to play rugby and you have seen the ability of our forwards and backs have to play the game and to play rugby and play ball. Every week we go out and try and take opportunities no matter what the weather. That is what we will try and do on Sunday.
“There’s been so many days when Munster have got the result in the final round to reach a European quarter-final We don’t like to do things in any way handy. Every time you get out of your pool in Europe it’s a huge feat. It’s a massive competition and the games are getting so big and the teams, the quality is incredible.
“The fact we’ve put ourselves in the position to be in with a shout, it’s in our hands now to go to another quarter-final, it’s something we’re proud of. We’ve got to go and win at the weekend and it’s going to be massively difficult because they’re such a good side but you’d bite someone’s hand off for it.”
Current Form – Munster – (GUINNESS PRO14): Won 34-3 v Benetton Rugby (home), Won 51-18 v Toyota Cheetahs (home), Won 21-16 v Ospreys (away), Lost 37-10 v Glasgow Warriors (away), Won 39-16 v Cardiff Blues (home), Lost 23-17 v Leinster (away); (Champions Cup): Drew 17-17 v Castres Olympique (away), Won 14-7 v Racing 92 (home); (GUINNESS PRO14): Lost 20-16 v Connacht (away), Won 49-6 v Dragons (home), Won 36-19 v Zebre (away), Won 36-10 v Ospreys (home); (Champions Cup): Won 33-10 v Leicester Tigers (home), Won 25-16 v Leicester Tigers (away): (GUINNESS PRO14): Lost 34-24 v Leinster (home), Lost 24-17 v Ulster (away), Won 39-13 v Connacht (home); (Champions Cup): Lost 34-30 v Racing 92 (away)
Castres Olympique – (Top 14 Championship): Lost 25-21 v Racing 92 (away), Won 33-19 v Bordeaux-Begles (home), Lost 22-17 v Montpellier (home), Lost 28-13 v Pau (away), Lost 31-12 v Lyon (away), Won 29-23 v Clermont Auvergne (home), Lost 27-22 v Brive (away); (Champions Cup): Drew 17-17 v Munster (home), Lost 54-29 v Leicester Tigers (away); (Top 14 Championship): Won 43-28 v Agen (home), Won 32-19 v Oyonnax (away), Won 31-15 v La Rochelle (home), Won 20-19 v Toulon (home), Won 41-31 v Toulouse (away); (Champions Cup): Won 16-13 v Racing 92 (home), Lost 29-7 v Racing 92 (away); (Top 14 Championship): Won 28-6 v Stade Francais (home), Won 31-27 v Clermont Auvergne (away), Lost 30-3 v Agen (away); (Champions Cup): Won 39-0 v Leicester Tigers (home)
Top Scorers – 2017/18 European Champions Cup: Munster – Points: Ian Keatley 49; Tries: Simon Zebo 2; Castres Olympique – Points: Benjamin Urdapilleta 35; Tries: David Smith 3
Previous European Meetings: 13
Sunday, October 15, 2017 – Pool 4 – Castres Olympique 17 Munster 17, Stade Pierre-Antoine
Saturday, January 14, 2012 – Pool 1 – Munster 26 Castres Olympique 10, Thomond Park
Saturday, November 19, 2011 – Pool 1 – Castres Olympique 24 Munster 27, Stade Ernest Wallon
Friday, January 13, 2006 – Pool 1 – Castres Olympique 9 Munster 46, Stade Pierre Antoine
Saturday, October 29, 2005 – Pool 1 – Munster 42 Castres Olympique 16, Thomond Park
Saturday, December 11, 2004 – Pool 4 – Munster 36 Castres Olympique 8, Thomond Park
Friday, December 3, 2004 – Pool 4 – Castres Olympique 19 Munster 12, Stade Pierre Antoine
Saturday, April 27, 2002 – Semi-final – Castres Olympique 17 Munster 25, Stade de la Méditerranée
Saturday, January 12, 2002 – Pool 4 – Castres Olympique 21 Munster 13, Stade Pierre Antoine
Saturday, September 29, 2001 – Pool 4 – Munster 28 Castres Olympique 23, Thomond Park
Saturday, January 20, 2001 – Pool 4 – Munster 21 Castres Olympique 11, Musgrave Park
Saturday, October 14, 2000 – Pool 4 – Castres Olympique 29 Munster 32, Stade Pierre Antoine
Wednesday, November 8, 1995 – Pool D – Castres Olympique 19 Munster 12, Stade Antoine Beguere
Match Facts –
– Munster come into Round 6 with a one-point advantage over second-placed Racing 92, while the visitors in Limerick, Castres Olympique, are still in the running, lying four points behind the leaders
– A bonus point win sees Munster safely through, but with three out of four Pool 4 teams able to make the knockout stages, and all equally at risk of exit, competition will be fierce
– When Munster and Castres met in Round 1 at the Stade Pierre-Antoine, the sides played out a 17-17 stalemate, but Munster will hope their Thomond Park fortress will give them the added edge
– Munster captain Peter O’Mahony has recovered from an ankle injury in time to lead the hosts out, but their defence will be tested by Castres, the offloading kings of Europe this season, having made 59 already
European Cup Records:
Munster –
2016/17: Reached the semi-finals
2015/16: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2014/15: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2013/14: Reached the semi-finals
2012/13: Reached the semi-finals
2011/12: Reached the quarter-finals
2010/11: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2009/10: Reached the semi-finals
2008/09: Reached the semi-finals
2007/08: Champions
2006/07: Reached the quarter-finals
2005/06: Champions
2004/05: Reached the quarter-finals
2003/04: Reached the semi-finals
2002/03: Reached the semi-finals
2001/02: Runners-up
2000/01: Reached the semi-finals
1999/00: Runners-up
1998/99: Reached the quarter-finals
1997/98: Failed to qualify from Pool D
1996/97: Failed to qualify from Pool D
1995/96: Failed to qualify from Pool D
Castres Olympique –
2016/17: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2014/15: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2013/14: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2012/13: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2011/12: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2010/11: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2008/09: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2006/07: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2005/06: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2004/05: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2001/02: Reached the semi-finals
2000/01: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
1995/96: Failed to qualify from Pool D
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