Tough Champions Cup night for Munster and Jack Crowley as they fall short against Castres

Ian Costello's Munster side did pick up a losing bonus point but they made qualification to the knock-out stages a little tougher for themselves due to an under-par, injury hit encounter in France

By: irishmirror.ie

Dec 13 2024
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Tough Champions Cup night for

A bad night for Jack Crowley ended in defeat for Munster and more injury problems at the Stade Pierre Fabre.

This 19th encounter between the clubs in 30 years was a scrappy affair and the Reds lacked the composure and touch of class required to chalk up a 14th victory in the rivalry.

After an error-strewn first half, Crowley kicked the Reds ahead for the first time when he nailed the 70th minute conversion of John Hodnett's second try.

But with the clock in the red the out of sorts out-half tried to get everything out of a penalty kick to the corner from just inside his own half, only to fail to find touch, with Jeremy Davidson's side celebrating as they maintained their unbeaten run at home.

Munster, meanwhile, will bring home a losing bonus point to go with last week's bonus point victory at home against Stade Francais. But they also picked up three more injuries, with Peter O'Mahony (ankle), Craig Casey (knee) and Thaakir Abrahams (shoulder) all forced out of the fray.

Munster stayed in the fight despite a really poor opening half hour to go in 10-7 behind at the break but blew two line-out opportunities early in the second half that proved costly.

The first half hour was tough going for the Reds. Crowley failed to find touch with an early penalty - it set the tone for an error-strewn performance.

Stephen Archer was penalised for two high tackles and escaped a yellow card, but Castres took the lead as a result of the second - ex-Connacht back row Abraham Papalii scored off a clever short lineout move despite Abrahams' efforts.

Crowley's malaise continued with an aimless kick in midfield followed by a penalty that fell short of the posts after Tadhg Beirne was taken out off the ball.

Munster lost Dian Bleuler in the 22nd minute to a HIA when he went to tackle down low and took a knee to the head, so veteran Dave Kilcoyne was into the game early in his first game back after 11 months out. He struggled late on as Castres' scrum became dominant.

Crowley compounded Munster's woes with a kick straight to touch and Castres struck again soon after - Papalii's quick tap penalty caught the visitors off-guard and prop Quentin Walcker finished.

The injured Casey was lifted off the pitch but there was finally a chink of light for Munster when Walcker was sin-binned for a high tackle on European debutant Brian Gleeson.

A Munster scrum win set up a line-out opportunity in Castres' 22 and Hodnett's unstoppable charge off line-out ball earned his side's first try. Crowley was successful with the conversion.

Geoffrey Palis was sin-binned for the hosts in the 44th minute but Munster failed to take advantage, with Jeremy Fernandez extending Castres' lead and O'Mahony limping out.

The hosts missed another penalty chance before sub prop Nicolas Corata was sin-binned for a maul infringement and Hodnett pounced from close range, with Crowley edging the Reds ahead.

But Castres finished strongly as their scrum got on top - out-half Louis le Brun kept his nerve to kick the winning penalty when Kilcoyne was penalised, and while Munster built their way back upfield and had the chance to set up line-out ball with the last play, Crowley failed to deliver with that vital final penalty.

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