All You Need To Know | Clermont Auvergne v Munster
17th December 2020 By The Editor
Munster travel to France for the biggest game of the season so far away to Clermont Auvergne on the back of eight successive wins to start the season.
Find out all you need to know ahead of the game below.
Where?
Stade Marcel Michelin (behind closed doors)
When?
Saturday, December 19, 5.30pm (Irish time)
Broadcast
Live on BT Sport.
Munster News
Gallery | This Week’s Training Pics
Did you know?
Munster have started the season with eight straight victories for the first time since the 2000/01 campaign. The 2000 sequence included Interpro wins over Leinster, Connacht (two) and Ulster (two) along with European Cup victories over Newport, Castres and Bath. Munster lost the ninth game of that season away to Bath in October 2000.
Preview
It’s all to play for in the ultra-competitive Pool B of the Champions Cup as Munster get set for their biggest challenge of the season so far away to French giants Clermont Auvergne.
No spectators will be permitted at the Stade Marcel Michelin but the French side mean business in the competition and secured a thumping win last weekend.
A 51-38 victory away to last season’s Premiership semi-finalists Bristol Bears gave Clermont the perfect start with livewire Japanese winger Kotaro Matsushima bagging a hat-trick.
The teams shared 12 tries in perfect conditions at Ashton Gate as Clermont had the bonus-point secured after less than half an hour.
Munster’s campaign also got off to a winning start as they battled past the conditions and a game Harlequins outfit at Thomond Park.
A penalty try, Gavin Coombes’ first Champions Cup try on his European debut, two JJ Hanrahan penalties and one from Ben Healy secured the victory.
See this weekend’s fixtures and the Pool B table below. Regarding the Covid-19 enforced cancellations, EPCR will convene Match Result Resolution Committees to determine the results of the cancelled matches and the decisions of the committees will be communicated as soon as practicable.
Cancelled
Exeter v Toulouse
Glasgow Warriors v Lyon
Saturday, December 19
Gloucester v Ulster, Kingsholm, 3.15pm
Clermont Auvergne v Munster, Stade Marcel Michelin, 5.30pm
Sunday, December 20
Harlequins v Racing 92, The Stoop, 3.15pm;
Connacht v Bristol Bears, 5.30pm;
Teams
Both sides will be named before noon on Friday.
Match Officials
Referee: Matthew Carley
Assistant Referees: Ludovic Cayre & Luc Ramos
TMO: Eric Gauzins