It’s matches like this that helped forged Munster’s reputation in European competition, two points won, when the alternative scenario could easily have left them empty-handed.
Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
The visitors found themselves under the cosh for interminable stretches of time and had to shovel their way through the trenches to earn any foothold they could get.
In many respects, they walked off the field feeling they should have won, because for every storm CO sent their way, Munster found the power to blow back.
But watching from the stands of Stade Pierre-Fabre this felt like performance of tremendous resolve and stubbornness which ensured, no matter what the error count, they simply refuse to wilt and be run over by a home side with a blood-thirsty crowd behind them.
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Revved up Rory
When Rory Scannell was in front of the media this week, the conversation eventually turned to his centre partner. Chris Farrell is a physical presence, but we were wide of the mark with the notion that Scannell needed the foil of his 6′ 4″ 100kg centre partner.
At the time, Scannell slipped in mid sentence that ”I don’t mind the physical things myself”. Today, he underlined that point in red.
In all he made 11 tackles, matching CJ Stander and only bettered by Tommy O’Donnell’s 14, but it was the venom that was in his hits that helped Munster thwart the Top14 side.
His finest effort came shortly after half-time, with Munster still down 14 – 10, he set a break-neck line-speed to smother the receiver and cement him behind the gain-line. The front foot was secured and Dave Kilcoyne pushed Munster back into the lead minutes later.
Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
Keats’ neat touches
We had more than a suspicion that Tyler Bleyendaal was the first-choice out-half Erasmus had settled on last week.
Sending JJ Hanrahan to the A squad raised some eyebrows, but Ian Keatley did a little more than justify his place. Keatley brought a welcome change of pace to Munster’s attack, beginning with a deft dummied pass before sneaking around the corner of Castres’ midfield and he soon followed that up with a gorgeous low touch-finder that turned David Smith and evaded his stretch.
He came close to being a match-winner too, taking on the sort of kick that Bleyendaal was passing up, but the 49-metre effort drifted narrowly wide.
No clean sweep, but a decent Irish weekend’s work in Europe
It was a European weekend with a lot to celebrate for fans of Irish rugby. Ulster got the ball rolling to see off Wasps with yet more thrilling interventions from Charles Piutau and Jacob Stockdale. Coming just a fortnight on from a loss away to Zebre, giving themselves the best possible start in their Champions Cup pool delivers a huge boost.
Today’s draw means Munster fell just short of making it a clean sweep for Irish provinces, but this tournament (and its predecessor) has continually rewarded teams who scrape unlikely points on rough days in the south of France.
Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
Arguably the biggest chunk of confidence will have come for Connacht. Their five defeats in the early weeks of the Pro14 sparked concern and dwindled optimism. However, through away clashes with Scarlets, Ulster and now Oyonnax they steadily improved and having rediscovered the knack of winning, things are looking up again out west.
Leinster though, were the weekend’s big winners as they clinically took out a star-studded Montpellier to rack up five early points in the toughest pool around.
With Racing 92, La Rochelle, Glasgow Warriors and Worcester on the cards for Irish provinces next weekend, the nation’s rugby teams will be doing well to come close to get within a whiff of a clean sweep again.
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Rory Scannell hits hard and more talking points from Munster's draw in Castres
MUNSTER DUG DEEP to claim a draw away to Castres in their opening Champions Cup pool fixture. You can find our match report from Stade Pierre-Fabre here, or read on for some post-match talking points.
A day when you grab what you can and get out
It’s matches like this that helped forged Munster’s reputation in European competition, two points won, when the alternative scenario could easily have left them empty-handed.
The visitors found themselves under the cosh for interminable stretches of time and had to shovel their way through the trenches to earn any foothold they could get.
In many respects, they walked off the field feeling they should have won, because for every storm CO sent their way, Munster found the power to blow back.
But watching from the stands of Stade Pierre-Fabre this felt like performance of tremendous resolve and stubbornness which ensured, no matter what the error count, they simply refuse to wilt and be run over by a home side with a blood-thirsty crowd behind them.
Revved up Rory
When Rory Scannell was in front of the media this week, the conversation eventually turned to his centre partner. Chris Farrell is a physical presence, but we were wide of the mark with the notion that Scannell needed the foil of his 6′ 4″ 100kg centre partner.
At the time, Scannell slipped in mid sentence that ”I don’t mind the physical things myself”. Today, he underlined that point in red.
In all he made 11 tackles, matching CJ Stander and only bettered by Tommy O’Donnell’s 14, but it was the venom that was in his hits that helped Munster thwart the Top14 side.
His finest effort came shortly after half-time, with Munster still down 14 – 10, he set a break-neck line-speed to smother the receiver and cement him behind the gain-line. The front foot was secured and Dave Kilcoyne pushed Munster back into the lead minutes later.
Keats’ neat touches
We had more than a suspicion that Tyler Bleyendaal was the first-choice out-half Erasmus had settled on last week.
Sending JJ Hanrahan to the A squad raised some eyebrows, but Ian Keatley did a little more than justify his place. Keatley brought a welcome change of pace to Munster’s attack, beginning with a deft dummied pass before sneaking around the corner of Castres’ midfield and he soon followed that up with a gorgeous low touch-finder that turned David Smith and evaded his stretch.
He came close to being a match-winner too, taking on the sort of kick that Bleyendaal was passing up, but the 49-metre effort drifted narrowly wide.
No clean sweep, but a decent Irish weekend’s work in Europe
It was a European weekend with a lot to celebrate for fans of Irish rugby. Ulster got the ball rolling to see off Wasps with yet more thrilling interventions from Charles Piutau and Jacob Stockdale. Coming just a fortnight on from a loss away to Zebre, giving themselves the best possible start in their Champions Cup pool delivers a huge boost.
Today’s draw means Munster fell just short of making it a clean sweep for Irish provinces, but this tournament (and its predecessor) has continually rewarded teams who scrape unlikely points on rough days in the south of France.
Arguably the biggest chunk of confidence will have come for Connacht. Their five defeats in the early weeks of the Pro14 sparked concern and dwindled optimism. However, through away clashes with Scarlets, Ulster and now Oyonnax they steadily improved and having rediscovered the knack of winning, things are looking up again out west.
Leinster though, were the weekend’s big winners as they clinically took out a star-studded Montpellier to rack up five early points in the toughest pool around.
With Racing 92, La Rochelle, Glasgow Warriors and Worcester on the cards for Irish provinces next weekend, the nation’s rugby teams will be doing well to come close to get within a whiff of a clean sweep again.
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Castres Champions Cup CJ Stander Munster Opinion Peter O'Mahony Rassie Erasmus Rugby SUAF