Castres v Munster live score updates from the Champions Cup clash
Munster fell to a 16-14 defeat to Castres in France as a late penalty from Louis le Brun helped the hosts get the better of a physical and error-strewn group three clash.
Craig Casey and Peter O’Mahony both went off injured on a night to forget for the visitors, who fell behind to early tries from Abraham Papalii and Quentin Walcker.
A superb solo try from John Hodnett kept Munster in touch, taking them to the interval only three points in arrears at 10-7, and the 68th minute sin-binning of Castres prop Nicolas Corato gave the visitors renewed hope.
As the errors kept coming from both sides, a home infringement gave Hodnett the chance to power over for his second and Jack Crowley’s second conversion gave the visitors an unlikely lead.
But was not enough for Ian Costello’s side as Le Brun’s kick gave Castres back the advantage and they saw the game out to take the points.
22:30Eamon Doggett
By Michael Scully
A bad night for Jack Crowley ended in defeat for Munster and more injury problems at the Stade Pierre Fabre.
This 19th encounter between the clubs in 30 years was a scrappy affair and the Reds lacked the composure and touch of class required to chalk up a 14th victory in the rivalry.
After an error-strewn first half, Crowley kicked the Reds ahead for the first time when he nailed the 70th minute conversion of John Hodnett's second try.
Read on here
21:55KEY EVENT
Castres get another penalty and decide to kick to the corner. But their lineout goes wrong and Munster get their hands on the ball. Crowley decides to kick long and Castres kick back to the province. Last chance saloon for Munster who must attack from deep. They make it to the halfway line and are awarded the penalty advantage. We come back for the penalty but it is too far away for the kick, and Crowley does't find touch! And the final whistle goes! A really dissastisfying ending for Munster, who don't get the chance to go for the final score. In a game of errors that Crowley kick rather summed it all up. A losing bonus point for Munster but they will be kicking themselves.
21:49Eamon Doggett
Munster are penalised at the scrum again. It gives Castres the chance to clear their lines - and that could be the winning of the match for the French side.
76 mins gone
21:47Eamon Doggett
Munster go through the phases and show good handling skills, but they struggled to puncture a hole in the Castres defence. They end up trying to throw a long pass out wide but it drifts forward. Castres have a scrum - and the clock is against Munster now.
74 mins gone
21:44Eamon Doggett
Castres win a penalty from a scrum and have the opportunity from the kicking tee to regain the lead - and Le Brun's kick goes between the posts. Big finish coming up to this match now....
72 mins gone
21:41KEY EVENT
Munster overthrow their lineout but Beirne scrambles to get on the ball. After a few phases, John Hodnett gets on a loose ball and drives over the line again! It's a second try for the Munster man! Crowley nails the conversion and Munster lead!
69 mins gone
21:37Eamon Doggett
Castres are penalised for infringing as they try to defend a Munster maul. The referee loses patience and sends a Castres man to to the bin. Big opportunity for Munster now....
21:35Eamon Doggett
Castres are penalised for going offside. It gives Crowley the chance to kick Munster inside the Castres 22. They need to get points from these attacking positions.
66 mins gone
21:31Eamon Doggett
Beirne is penalised for slowing down the ball - a cheap penalty to concede for Munster. But Dumora's kick is wild and misses by a wide margin. A let-off for Munster!
63 mins gone
21:27Eamon Doggett
More injury problems for Munster as Thaakir Abrahams goes off with a shoulder injury. Rory Scannell comes on in his place.
58 mins gone
21:19Eamon Doggett
Alex Nankivell with a big turnover for Munster after Crowley tackled well. Crowley kicks towards the corner and Beirne takes the lineout. But Castres deal with the Munster maul and manage the turn the ball over. Another frustrating moment for Munster as Palis comes back on the pitch for Castres to restore them to 15 men.
54 mins gone
21:17Eamon Doggett
More injury woes for Munster as Peter O'Mahony has hobbled off the pitch. Tom Ahern comes on in his place.
51 mins gone
21:14Eamon Doggett
The first score of the half goes to Castres as Fernandez knocks over a penalty. Munster have had all the possession in this half but haven't been able to make it count.
49 mins gone
21:10Eamon Doggett
Castres win a penalty at the scrum, giving them the chance to bring play up to halfway. The home side are down to 14 men for the next eight minutes now.
45 mins gone
21:09Eamon Doggett
Munster carry the ball well and look to go wide but Crowley's pass is intentionally knocked on by Palis, who gets a yellow card. But Munster mess up the lineout, with Castres turning the ball over. Big missed opportunity for Munster.
44 mins gone
21:04Eamon Doggett
We are under way for the second half!
40 mins gone
20:48KEY EVENT
Mike Haley kicks the ball out on the full to invite pressure back on his side. Castres get the penalty advantage, which we go back for. Fernandez kicks to the corner for the home side. But the Castres lineout goes wrong and Munster get away with it. The half-time whistle goes. Munster have been disjointed and guilty of many silly mistakes, but they are still right in this match.
20:45KEY EVENT
Castres penalised for collasping the scrum. Crowley kicks to the corner. Munster go to the front of the lineout and Tadhg Beirne, and then John Hodnett explodes from the base of the maul and powers over the line! Crowley's conversion splits the post and now there is just three points between the sides.
38 mins gone
20:42Eamon Doggett
Munster get some width on the ball with some better passes. They try to go around the outside but Castres get a fingertip to a pass and knock it on. Munster have a scrum in the Castres half.
35 mins gone
20:39Eamon Doggett
The Castres tryscorer Walcker has been shown a yellow card for a high tackle on Brian Gleeson. He will spend ten minutes in the bin.
32 mins gone
20:36Eamon Doggett
A worrying sight for Munster fans as Craig Casey has gone off injured. Paddy Patterson has come on to replace the scrum half.
32 mins gone
20:34Eamon Doggett
Munster come under sustained pressure, with Peter O'Mahony penalised for going in at the side. Castres take a quick penalty and Quentin Walcker gets over the line for the home side. Fernandez misses the conversion again.
30 mins gone
20:31Eamon Doggett
A brilliant kick and chase from Mike Haley sees Munster into the Castres half but Crowley's crossfield kick drifts out of play. Too many mistakes from Munster so far. Both side have struggled to find some rhythm in attack.
27 mins gone
20:26Eamon Doggett
Dave Kilcoyne has come on for Munster while Dian Bleuler goes off for a HIA.
23 mins gone
20:23Eamon Doggett
Castres guilty of another tackle off the ball. It gives Crowley the chance to kick Munster towards the corner flag. Beirne takes the lineout before Munster go through a series of carries before Goodhue poaches the ball for Castres.
21 mins gone
20:20Eamon Doggett
Munster attack well and Tadhg Beirne gets taken out off the ball. A penalty is awarded and Crowley points to the posts. But the out-half doesn't make good connection and his kick comes up short.
18 mins gone
20:16KEY EVENT
Munster try to attack from deep but a Tom Farrell pass drifts forward, giving Castres a scrum inside the Munster half. The away side are then penalised for a Stephen Archer high tackle. Castres kick to the corner again. This time Castres go down the short side from the lineout and Abraham Papali'l barges over. The conversion is missed.
14 mins gone
20:10Eamon Doggett
This time Castres get a rolling maul going from the lineout. They get over the line but somehow the ball is held up - Brian Gleeson is getting the plaudits for Munster.
7 mins gone
20:09Eamon Doggett
Munster are penalised again for not rolling away. Castres kick towards the corner again. They go towards the tail of the lineout and then switch play to the blindside. The French side have an advantage and try a dink over the Munster defence. Baget tried to get the ball down but ran out of room. Munster under the cosh as Castres kick to the corner again.
6 mins gone
20:05Eamon Doggett
Munster guilty of conceding a penalty at the breakdown. It gives Castres the opportunity to kick to the corner. The home side attack out wide off the lineout but Munster defend their line well and end up forcing a knock on.
4 mins gone
