Castres v Munster – Reds seek second win of Champions Cup ...

Castres

Munster

63 MINS: Munster are let off the hook as a groan of frustration rings out around the Stade Pierre-Fabre. Julien Dumora takes over the kicking duties but shanks it horribly to the left of the posts. 

61 MINS: Munster kick away possession through Paddy Patterson and Castres hack it down field. Alex Nankivell recovers but can't find touch. Munster are penalised as Tadgh Beirne goes off his feet at the breakdown. 

The penalty presents a perfect opportunity for Castres to look at the posts and extend their lead to a two-score game at least. 

59 MINS: A brief TMO review spots a no-wrap tackle from Abraham Papali'i on Thaakir Abrahams. Munster find touch inside the Castres 22-line. 

56 MINS: The change at tighthead is sumplimented with another change at hooker as Diarmuid Barron takes over from Niall Scannell. 

An injury to Adrea Cocagi sustained in the tackle on Thaakir Abrahams halts play for the time being. 

56 MINS: Munster pinch the Castres lineout on their own 22-line and clear through the boot of Jack Crowley. This game has turned into a real arm-wrestle as of late with neither side able to find an attacking foothold. 

54 MINS: Those of you who watched the 2023 Rugby World Cup closely will remember the nippy Uruguayan scrum-half Santiago Arata who comes into the action as Jeremy Fernandez leaves the field.  

54 MINS: Munster win a penalty as Castres stray offside. The maul is set inside the Castres 22-line but the Castres' pack manages to disrupt it and turnover possession. 

The French club are also back up to the full compliment as Geoffrey Palis returns from the sin-bin. 

51 MINS: That's the end of Peter O'Mahony's night as the flanker pulls up holding his quad muscle. Tom Ahern is in as Tadgh Beirne switches into the back-row to accommodate the move. 

52 MINS: Anxious moments for Munster as Jack Crowley's pass goes forward to Peter O'Mahony pulls up with a limp. 

50 MINS: Munster make a change in the back-row as Jack O'Donoghue enters the fray as the 20-year-old Gleeson departs. 

49 MINS: It has only taken 49 minutes but Castres finally split the posts as scrum-half Jeremy Fernandez takes over kicking duties from range to extend the hosts' lead. 

48 MINS: An accidental offside offers Castres a scrum on halfway as Tadgh Beirne picks up the ball unknowingly after receiving some attention from the physios. Castres win the penalty as Dave Kilcoyne crumbles under the pressure applied by Quentin Walcker. 

45 MINS: Big defensive shift from Castres! Munster set the maul which is halted and Will Collier puts in an almighty hit to force the knock on. Munster go after Castres in the scrum but Christophe Ridley penalises the Irish province for wheeling. 

44 MINS: The 35-year-old winger will spend the next 10 minutes in the sin-bin for a blatant slap down on Jack Crowley's pass which would have released Thaakir Abrahams. 

44 MINS: Christophe Ridley looks to Daniel Jones as there could be a deliberate knock on from Geoffrey Palis who possibly prevented a Munster linebreak. 

43 MINS: Castres conceed the penalty which is further penalised as Christophe Ridley receives some backchat from the Castres' players. Jack Crowley sends it into touch. 

41 MINS: Still no sign of Dian Bleuler who went off for a HIA around the 25th-minute so we can only assume the assessment was failed and Dave Kilcoyne will see out the rest of this game. 

The second-half is underway at the Stade Pierre-Fabre as Louis Le Brun kicks deep into the Munster half. 

The second-half is about to start as Louis Le Brun bounces the ball on the halfway line awaiting Christophe Ridley's whistle. 

"Castres have dragged them [Munster] into a dog fight and Munster's inaccuracies have let them down. 

"Munster need to focus on the intent in the carry and go back to basics with their carrying game," said Simon Zebo in the Premier Sports analysis of the first-half.