Munster made it back-to-back wins in this season’s Heineken Champions Cup as the men in red dug deep to earn a 19-13 victory in front of 21,250 supporters in Thomond Park on Saturday night.
This victory sees Johann van Graan’s side earn nine points from a maximum 10 from the opening two rounds to leave the province in a strong position before the back-to-back games resume in January.
It was also a special night for many of the province’s younger players as Diarmuid Barron, Keynan Knox, Jack Crowley and Alex Kendellen all made their European debuts. Jason Jenkins made his debut for the province when he was introduced as a second-half substitute.
14 points from the boot of Ben Healy and a well-earned try from Jack O’Donoghue was enough for Munster to secure a win on home soil against a Castres outfit who fought all the way to the end.
It took only five minutes for Munster to take the lead in this game and it would be a lead they would not relinquish for the entirety of the match.
A Munster scrum inside the Castres half saw van Graan’s charges hold onto the ball for a few phases before a strong carry from Tadhg Beirne had Castres on the backfoot. Under pressure, the visitors infringed at the breakdown and Healy lined up his first kick of the night, a 40 metre effort which was always going through the posts.
Castres responded with a prolonged period of possession but their efforts to hit back on the scoreboard were halted when the concession of a breakdown penalty allowed Munster to kick clear.
A powerful Munster maul just inside the Castres half saw the French side compete illegally and this allowed Healy to kick his side into the corner for a try opportunity. Unfortunately, the lineout went amiss and the visitors were able to clear their lines soon after by winning a penalty at the breakdown.
Munster responded immediately as Peter O’Mahony stole a Castres lineout on halfway. From turnover ball, Munster put together a slick passage of play which released Andrew Conway up the far touchline.
The move eventually resulted in a grubber kick from Conor Murray towards the Castres try-line but his effort had a bit too much power on it for O’Mahony who was chasing.
A few moments later, Conway found space in the Castres 22 with a deft kick, one of many throughout the 80 minutes for the winger. From this kick, the visitors managed to secure possession, however, Tadhg Beirne was able to latch on and win a crucial penalty. Healy made no mistake with his effort from the tee and he extended Munster’s lead to 6-0.
The next passage of play almost resulted in Munster’s first try of the night.
A Jack O’Donoghue lineout steal saw Munster put the ball through the hands to Patrick Campbell. The 19-year-old kicked through as the ball trickled into touch deep in Castres territory.
Another lineout steal saw Munster go through the phases deep in the Castres 22. Damian De Allende and Dave Kilcoyne were both stopped just short of the line and the former then touched down for what looked to be Munster’s opening try of the game only for referee Matthew Carley to rule that the 2019 World Cup winner lost control of the ball in the process of grounding.
With a penalty advantage, Munster decided to take the three points on offer as Healy extended Munster’s lead to 9-0 from an effort in front of the posts.
Just before the half-time whistle, Benjamin Urdapiletta got Castres off the mark with a penalty to leave Munster 9-3 up at the break.
On the resumption of the second half, Castres had an opportunity to narrow the deficit further but Thomas Larregain’s effort drifted right and wide of the posts.
Soon after, Munster won a penalty on the halfway line from a scrum and this allowed Healy the opportunity to go for the posts from over 50 metres out. However, the young Tipperary man’s effort had the distance but not the accuracy as it drifted to the left of the posts.
Just before the midway point of the second half, Munster pushed further ahead when Jack O’Donoghue got the first try of the night. The Waterford man showed tremendous strength to power through three Castres defenders before planting the ball with one arm in the corner.
Although O’Donoghue was on the end of the move, there were some excellent touches from the likes of Keith Earls and Damian De Allende in the build-up.
Healy’s sublime touchline conversion gave Munster a 16-3 lead with just over 20 minutes remaining.
Just like they did in the first half, the visitors responded with another Urdapiletta penalty after Munster infringed when defending a lineout drive.
With the score at 16-6, Jason Jenkins came on for his Munster debut to a warm reception from the home crowd.
As the game entered the final moments, there was some sustained pressure from Munster in the Castres 22. The visitors slowed the ball down illegally at the ruck and this allowed Healy to kick another three points for Munster as the game entered the final few minutes.
To the French side’s credit, their effort throughout the 80 minutes was awarded when Kevin Kornath powered over from close range at the death. Urdapiletta’s conversion secured a losing bonus-point for the Top 14 side.
Champions Cup Round 2 Round-Up
Hooker Diarmuid Barron, prop Keynan Knox, out-half Jack Crowley and Academy back-row forward Alex Kendellen all made their Champions Cup debuts.
The Heineken Star Of The Match was centre Damian De Allende.
Jason Jenkins made his Munster debut tonight after replacing Jean Kleyn in the second-half.
At the time of writing, Munster are level on nine points with Harlequins at the top of Pool B after the province secured back-to-back wins in the Champions Cup.
Munster: Patrick Campbell; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Damian de Allende, Keith Earls; Ben Healy (Crowley 70′), Conor Murray (Casey 70′); Dave Kilcoyne (Wycherley 53′), Niall Scannell (Barron 53′), John Ryan (Knox 53′); Jean Kleyn (Jenkins 63′), Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (C), John Hodnett (Kendellen 72′), Jack O’Donoghue (O’Sullivan 70′).
Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, Keynan Knox, Jason Jenkins, Jack O’Sullivan, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Alex Kendellen.
