Video & Gallery | Castres Preparations

The Munster squad have been training in UL’s High Performance Centre since Tuesday for the must-win Champions Cup pool clash against Castres Olympique on Sunday at Thomond Park (1pm).

Tickets for the game are available online, from the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices at Thomond Park and Irish Independent Park (Mon – Fri, 10am – 5pm), or by calling 061 421103.

Check out the best photos from training this week here.

Speaking ahead of the game, Conor Murray said: “We’ve been here a couple of times, haven’t we [needing to win the final pool game]. I think for us as a group, this is our own team. We know we are in control of everything, it’s a good place to be.

“You are coming back home to Thomond, it’s going to be a massive crowd, a European game, and you are fully in control of your own destiny. That’s exactly where we would have wanted to be at the start of the year. It’s a big week. Like I said, we played well last week so we are going to remain positive, and drive it on this week, and hopefully it leads to a performance and lock away a quarter-final.”

Hear more from Conor, captain Peter O’Mahony and Head Coach Johann van Graan below.

Conor Murray

‘We played well last week so we’re going to remain positive, drive it on this week and it hopefully leads to a performance.’

Conor Murray looks ahead to our Champions Cup clash against Castres @ThomondStadium on Sunday afternoon. #MUNvCO #SUAF pic.twitter.com/S5Y7fjEION

— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) January 17, 2018

Peter O’Mahony

“We know the score, we have to go out and perform as well as we can.”

A win on Sunday against in-form Castres at @ThomondStadium would see Munster advance to the Champions Cup knock-out stages for a record 17th time.

Captain Peter O’Mahony looks ahead to #MUNvCO.#SUAF pic.twitter.com/iMdtEtR6TD

— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) January 17, 2018

Johann van Graan

‘Earlsie just seems to get better and better.’

Didn’t have room for all of Keith Earls’ highlights from the Racing 92 game at the weekend but fitted in as much as we could!

Head Coach Johann van Graan had huge praise for the winger ahead of #MUNvCO#SUAF pic.twitter.com/08HTBgfhcx

— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) January 17, 2018