Munster & Castres Share The Spoils In France

Opportunity lost.

Munster will be relieved in the end to have come away with two points from their Champions Cup opener with Castres. But no doubt they will be feeling they could have come away with more.

Things got off to a shaky start, with Conor Murray sent to the bin just five minutes into the game. The Lions scrumhalf was lucky to get away with just the yellow, tackling man off the ball and perhaps preventing a try. Soon after that, Simon Zebo slapped the ball down and was even luckier to escape with just giving away a penalty. No doubt Castres were going to go in at the corner, and perhaps a penalty try should have been awarded.

Chris Farrell was a fault for the opening try, throwing a wild pass thaw was easily intercepted by Ebersohn, who scampered upfield and crossed under the posts in the 14th minute. But Munster fought back with a try of their own thanks to an excellent flat ball by Murray that sent Zebo crashing over after 35 minutes.

Just minutes later however, Munster were once again chasing the game after some poor defence. Castres recycled quickly and Kockott popped off to fullback Dumora for a clinical score.

Some quick thinking early in the second half put Munster back in front as Kilcoyne crashed over after a tap and go 5 metres from the line. But it was all Castres after that as Munster let them take control of the game.

The French side levelled things up in the 5oth minute with a Urdapilleta penalty, but that was to be the final score of the game. Twice however, Munster were saved by last ditch tackles into touch later on.

Two points gained. But Munster could have taken control of the game on multiple occasions and didn’t. Big improvement needed for when Racing 92 come to town next weekend.

Full-time: Castres 17-17 Munster

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