Munster vs Castres, Sun 21 Jan 1pm, Sky Sports

thomond2006

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 (C), Chris Cloete, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Niall Scannell, James Cronin, John Ryan, Darren O’Shea, Jack O’Donoghue, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Alex Wootton.

Castres:
15. Geoffrey Palis; 14. Kylian Jaminet, 13. Thomas Combezou, 12. Robert Ebersohn, 11. David Smith; 10. Julien Dumora, 9. Rory Kockott;
1. Antoine Tichit, 2. Jody Jenneker, 3. Damien Tussac, 4. Alexandre Bias, 5. Thibault Lassalle, 6. Yannick Caballero, 7. Steve Mafi, 8. Alex Tulou

16. Kevin Firmin, 17. Tudor Stroe, 18. Daniel Kotze, 19. Victor Moreaux, 20. Baptiste Delaporte, 21. Yohan Domenech, 22. Yohan Le Bourhis, 23. Afusipa Taumoepeau

Pool 4:
Munster 16
Racing 15
Castres 12
Leicester 6

Munster host Castres in Round 6 to secure a quarter-final berth and hopefully a home quarter-final. A bonus point win will be the goal to return to Thomond Park in April.

Nay

Leinster played this fixture away last year and really under estimated Castres barely securing a draw.

I expect Munster to be a lot more ruthless.

case885

Scannell back is great news, should put him back in to the reckoning for the 6nations.

thomond2006

Nay

15. Geoffrey Palis; 14. Kylian Jaminet, 13. Thomas Combezou, 12. Robert Ebersohn, 11. David Smith; 10. Julien Dumora, 9. Rory Kockott;
1. Antoine Tichit, 2. Jody Jenneker, 3. Damien Tussac, 4. Alexandre Bias, 5. Thibault Lassalle, 6. Yannick Caballero, 7. Steve Mafi, 8. Alex Tulou

16. Kevin Firmin, 17. Tudor Stroe, 18. Daniel Kotze, 19. Victor Moreaux, 20. Baptiste Delaporte, 21. Yohan Domenech, 22. Yohan Le Bourhis, 23. Afusipa Taumoepeau

budhabob

thomond2006 wrote: »

15. Geoffrey Palis; 14. Kylian Jaminet, 13. Thomas Combezou, 12. Robert Ebersohn, 11. David Smith; 10. Julien Dumora, 9. Rory Kockott;
1. Antoine Tichit, 2. Jody Jenneker, 3. Damien Tussac, 4. Alexandre Bias, 5. Thibault Lassalle, 6. Yannick Caballero, 7. Steve Mafi, 8. Alex Tulou

16. Kevin Firmin, 17. Tudor Stroe, 18. Daniel Kotze, 19. Victor Moreaux, 20. Baptiste Delaporte, 21. Yohan Domenech, 22. Yohan Le Bourhis, 23. Afusipa Taumoepeau

Don't know much about Castres, is this a full strength team?

prawnsambo

budhabob wrote: »

Don't know much about Castres, is this a full strength team?

Pretty much I would think. Not sure what state their infirmerie is in though.

Pear goes in a sandwich?!

irishbucsfan

Deleted User wrote: »

Pear goes in a sandwich?!

With bacon

thomond2006

Nay

Deleted User wrote: »

Pear goes in a sandwich?!

irishbucsfan wrote: »

With bacon

thomond2006

thomond2006 wrote: »

That lunch is only just about saved by the Belvoir Elderflower

thomond2006

Nay

Deleted User wrote: »

That lunch is only just about saved by the Belvoir Elderflower

OMG OMG OMG

I didn't notice the Elderflower.

Akrasia

Strong Castres side. The first 20 minutes of the game on sunday are unbelievably important. We need to keep them from scoring and pin them down in their own half.

Owta Control

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Pear goes in a sandwich?!

Not on my watch it doesn't!

thomond2006

Nay

Rory Kockott starting for Castres tomorrow.



Never forget.

Owta Control

What's that ..I've forgotten

Turnipman

thomond2006 wrote: »

Rory Kockott starting for Castres tomorrow.

Never forget.

Is he the only South African player that Munsterbokke failed to sign?

Owta Control

Nay

Owta Control wrote: »

What's that ..I've forgotten

Maybe the best day of rugby ever. 2015 6N, final day.

Owta Control

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Maybe the best day of rugby ever. 2015 6N, final day.

Apologies my good man, I was being facetious

mystic86

So Munster need to win, get the BP and win by a margin of 5 or more to earn a home quarter final, right?

Or else hope that Ulster lose...?

salmocab

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Maybe the best day of rugby ever. 2015 6N, final day.

Great day, watched 2 1/2 games in the pub, hours after my son was born. Even have Luke Fitz’s jersey from that day. Some day of rugby

thomond2006

Nay

Munster BP win by 5 points or more = Home QF

salmocab

Nay

salmocab wrote: »

Great day, watched 2 1/2 games in the pub, hours after my son was born. Even have Luke Fitz’s jersey from that day. Some day of rugby

Great to hear and congrats, It was an absolutely brilliant day. I watched all 3 games with someone that was sadly at the other end of the timescale in life but I'll never forget the despair after Wales annihilated Italy and then the tepid excitement when we produced magic in Scotland.

I vividly recall the picture of Rory Kockett in the match thread earlier. I remember sharing his exuberance but a small part of my mind going "is this actually real"...

NollagShona

I WAS THERE!!!

NollagShona

ALSO



MILLENNIUM STADIUM GS my fave!

NollagShona

Deleted User wrote: »

Maybe the best day of rugby ever. 2009 6N, final day.

FYP

phog

NollagShona wrote: »

MILLENNIUM STADIUM GS my fave!

That Tricolour that Stringer has, I threw it into him from stand behind the try line where Bowe scored a try in the 2nd half and ROG had the drop goal.

NollagShona

phog wrote: »

That Tricolour that Stringer has, I threw it into him from stand behind the try line where Bowe scored a try in the 2nd half and ROG had the drop goal.

What a day! Me and my bro surprised our sis (who lives in Wales) with a ticket!

NollagShona

Nay

NollagShona wrote: »

What a day! Me and my bro surprised our sis (who lives in Wales) with a ticket!

To what?

NollagShona

Deleted User wrote: »

To what?

The 2009 Wales v Ireland GS match

twinytwo

If today goes to the wire, I have zero faith in keatley delivering the goods.

If we had a 10/kicker the calibre of Sexton or Farrell things would be a lot easier.

But then as we saw last week, Munster never do things easy.

DDC1990

If we leave it to come down to Keatly late in the game, we aren't good enough to progress anyway.

I expect to see us get a couple of early tries from lineouts and bash away at the Castres spirit. Wrap the bonus point up in the first 15mins of the second half and win comfortably.

Again if we struggle at home, then we have no business being in the QF's anyway and would be setting ourselves up for a beating from Leinster/Clermont/Scarlets away. The only ones we might give a bash in an away QF is Ulster- to make up for that shambolic second half over Christmas.

bennyl10

twinytwo wrote: »

If today goes to the wire, I have zero faith in keatley delevering the goods.

If we had a 10/kicker the calibre of Sexton or Farrell things would be a lot easier.

But then as we saw last week, Munster never do things easy.

Keatley who has been phenomenal all season for us?
If it was 1/2 years ago fine,
But he's done enough this year to show he can be trusted, he's hardly put a foot wrong ffs!

Former Former

Keatley will get an armchair ride today, he won't need to be on his game.

Munster will have this wrapped up by half time.

Buer

Former Former wrote: »

Keatley will get an armchair ride today, he won't need to be on his game.

Munster will have this wrapped up by half time.

Doubt they'll have anything wrapped up in 40 minutes but I fully expect them to get the BP win even if they make heavy going of it.

Weather isn't good which won't help but Castres won't have any stomach for a fight. They've a big T14 match next week which is their priority now.

NollagShona

Nay

NollagShona wrote: »

The 2009 Wales v Ireland GS match

Ha - sorry that was meant to have been a joke

kub

Former Former wrote:

Keatley will get an armchair ride today, he won't need to be on his game.

I hope that happens, because eventhough there has been an improvement in him over the last while, I do not think he is good enough for the Champions Cup. He is good enough for the league, except for when it gets interesting.
I think Munster need a quality out half, the 3 that we have are not at that standard.

LuckyGent88

Weather is horrific down these parts. Hopefully castres have no interest in being out in it. Strong lineup from them so they might actually be going for the win.

NollagShona

On the way, Roscrea next

ScrubsfanChris

It's pouring down with no end in sight before kick off at least. Flooding on the roads coming up too, could be a messy game ahead.

c.p.w.g.w

Which sky sports channel is it on?

NollagShona

c.p.w.g.w wrote: »

Which sky sports channel is it on?

Action

c.p.w.g.w

NollagShona wrote: »

Action

Cheers

johnnyryan89

Any chance of it being called off, pitch isn't looking too healthy.

chupacabra

The first rugby game ive managed to make it home for in almost 2 years and the weather is absolutely shocking..... my kind of game :cool:

thomond2006

Nay

The pitch looks in awful nick going on Twitter pics.

https://twitter.com/oisinlangan/status/955035955752308736

https://twitter.com/laherne95/status/955042034787803141


This wont be pretty if it gets going at all!

.ak

**** off. Adult men and women all over the county are playing competitive rugby on worse pitches for nothing but the love the game. These lads are PAID to do it.

Bit of water hurt no one. There's no way there's a danger to any players there, no standing water etc.

irishbucsfan

.ak wrote: »

**** off. Adult men and women all over the county are playing competitive rugby on worse pitches for nothing but the love the game. These lads are PAID to do it.

Bit of water hurt no one. There's no way there's a danger to any players there, no standing water etc.

Eh I wouldn't be so sure if I was you... certainly a fair few amateur games cancelled this morning.

The Lost Sheep

.ak wrote: »

**** off. Adult men and women all over the county are playing competitive rugby on worse pitches for nothing but the love the game. These lads are PAID to do it.

Bit of water hurt no one. There's no way there's a danger to any players there, no standing water etc.

There's a lot of amatuer games called off for this morning/afternoon for the conditions.

budhabob

Deleted User wrote: »

https://twitter.com/oisinlangan/status/955035955752308736

https://twitter.com/laherne95/status/955042034787803141


This wont be pretty if it gets going at all!

Pitch looks pure ****e. Gonna be a ball up the jumper affair if it goes ahead.

thomond2006

Nay

.ak wrote: »

**** off. Adult men and women all over the county are playing competitive rugby on worse pitches for nothing but the love the game. These lads are PAID to do it.

Bit of water hurt no one. There's no way there's a danger to any players there, no standing water etc.

Exactly. If these lads get injured, they may not get PAID.