In Conversation

Defeat in the Stade Pierre-Antoine leaves Munster in second place in Pool 4 of the Heineken Cup but with the return game next Saturday Donncha O’Callaghan is hopeful of puttings matters right.

“It was very disappointing really because we were going well in the second half and when we got to within a point of them I thought we had them. We had a real good cut off them when we drove them back to their line but coughed up the ball and gave away a penalty that let them off the hook.

” Rog was short with a penalty from distance but we were in a bit of bother later when they attacked inside our 22. So really I suppose we have to be happy that we got something out of it. Well like there s nothing we can do about it now and there s no point beating ourselves up about it. We have a point in the bag and it s a case of getting ourselves right for the return next Saturday.

“That s going to be a huge game and it will be an opportunity to make up for this one. If we do it right it ll leave us in a good position with two games to go. Mind you it won t be any easier. They re a big unit up front and have plenty of pace in the backs. But at home and with the crowd behind us we can give it a real good rattle.

“Our preparation went well enough but like a load of us hadn t been with the boys for over a month and maybe it was a big ask to expect to come back in and take out a team like Castres. Might have been different if we had a game under our belts and hopefully we ll be motoring a lot better next week”.