2017 semi-finalists Munster have accumulated nine wins from 12 previous meetings with Castres Olympique, and will look to add another victory in southern France this afternoon.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP – POOL 4: Sunday, October 15
CASTRES OLYMPIQUE v MUNSTER, Stade Pierre-Antoine, 2pm local time/1pm Irish time (live Sky Sports Action/beIN Sports/Newstalk/highlights TG4)
Team News: Munster begin their Champions Cup campaign away to Castres Olympique this afternoon, with Rassie Erasmus making five changes to the side that lost to Leinster last week.
There are three alterations in the back-line where the fit-again Simon Zebo returns to take his place at full-back, Darren Sweetnam is named on the right wing, and Rory Scannell is restored to midfield where he is partnered by Champions Cup debutant Chris Farrell.
Keith Earls is retained on the left wing after an impressive seasonal debut last Saturday that saw him score a brace of tries, while Tyler Bleyendaal makes a positional switch from centre to renew his half-back partnership with Conor Murray.
In the forwards, newcomer Mark Flanagan will make his first start for the province and his Champions Cup debut, as he joins the squad’s most-capped player, Billy Holland, in the engine room.
Stephen Archer is slotted back into the front row alongside Niall Scannell and Dave Kilcoyne and it is as you were across the back row with Tommy O’Donnell, captain Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander combining for the round 1 clash at Stade Pierre-Antoine.
Although Munster and Castres have not met since the 2011/12 season, this will be the 13th time the sides meet in Europe and, in turn, it becomes the most-played fixture in the tournament’s history.
Meanwhile, Uruguayan lock Rodrigo Capo Ortega returns to captain Castres against the Munstermen, with head coach Christophe Urios also welcoming back France international Rory Kockott at scrum half for the European opener.
Urios has made six personnel changes to the side that lost 27-22 away to Brive in the Top 14 last week. Canadian recruit Taylor Paris comes into the back-three alongside David Smith and full-back Julien Dumora, the scorer of two tries in Brive.
The Sydney-born Afusipa Taumoepeau slots back in at outside centre with South African Robert Ebersohn switching positions to number 12. As well as Capo Ortega’s inclusion in the engine room, the final two changes see Yannick Caballero and big Tongan Steve Mafi form a strong back row unit with number 8 Maama Vaipulu.
Castres are currently fourth-from-bottom in the Top 14 standings with four defeats in their last five league encounters. However, two of their wins so far have been at home to Bordeaux-Begles and Clermont Auvergne, while they defeated Montpellier and drew with Leinster at Stade Pierre-Antoine during the 2016/17 Champions Cup.
CASTRES OLYMPIQUE: Julien Dumora; Taylor Paris, Afusipa Taumoepeau, Robert Ebersohn, David Smith; Benjamin Urdapilleta, Rory Kockott; Antoine Tichit, Jody Jenneker, Daniel Kotze, Loic Jacquet, Rodrigo Capo Ortega (capt), Yannick Caballero, Steve Mafi, Maama Vaipulu.
Replacements: Marc-Antoine Rallier, Mihaita Lazar, Damien Tussac, Christophe Samson, Anthony Jelonch, Ludovic Radosavljevic, Florian Vialelle, Armand Batlle.
MUNSTER: Simon Zebo; Darren Sweetnam, Chris Farrell, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Tyler Bleyendaal, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, Mark Flanagan, Billy Holland. Peter O’Mahony (capt), Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Liam O’Connor, John Ryan, Robin Copeland, Jack O’Donoghue, Duncan Williams, Ian Keatley, Andrew Conway.
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant Referees: Tim Wigglesworth, Steve Lee (both England)
Television Match Official: Sean Davey (England)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Castres Olympique to win: 11/10; Draw: 18/1; Munster to win: 10/11
Pre-Match Quotes: Rory Scannell (Munster) – “Castres will have big physical centres, you see that a lot in the French teams and it’s our job to stop their go-forward ball. Matching them physically is the first thing.
“There’s no need to tell us that this weekend will be another step up. The step up is that little bit less after you’ve played a team like Leinster, but the level will be increased.
“It’s always tough to go to France and get a win, and in any of the games we won over there our penalty count was quite low. That wasn’t the case against Leinster last weekend, and when you do that against a place-kicker like Johnny (Sexton) you are going to suffer.”
CJ Stander (Munster) – “Our discipline is not the worst in the competition but we know that going to France we need a marked improvement. They have unbelievable crowds over there and giving away silly penalties only gets them on your back and into the game.
“It’s about getting that balance right. The best players in the world play on the edge and you need to walk that line in training all week to make sure you can replicate it in the game.
“We know Castres like to maul it a lot and play the ball through their forwards early on. We can’t wait until the 70th minute to try and outmuscle them, we need to go over there and grind it out across the 80 minutes.”
Current Form – Castres Olympique – (Top 14 Championship): Lost 25-21 v Racing 92 (away), Won 33-19 v Bordeaux-Begles (home), Lost 22-17 v Montpellier (home), Lost 28-13 v Pau (away), Lost 31-12 v Lyon (away), Won 29-23 v Clermont Auvergne (home), Lost 27-22 v Brive (away)
Munster – (GUINNESS PRO14): Won 34-3 v Benetton Rugby (home), Won 51-18 v Toyota Cheetahs (home), Won 21-16 v Ospreys (away), Lost 37-10 v Glasgow Warriors (away), Won 39-16 v Cardiff Blues (home), Lost 23-17 v Leinster (away)
Top Scorers – 2016/17 European Champions Cup: Castres Olympique – Points: Benjamin Urdapilleta 36; Tries: David Smith 4; Munster – Points: Tyler Bleyendaal 97; Tries: Simon Zebo 4
Previous European Meetings: 12
Saturday, January 14, 2012 – Pool 1 – Munster 26 Castres Olympique 10, Thomond Park
Saturday, November 19, 2011 – Pool 1 – Castres Olympique 24 Munster 27, Stade Ernest Wallon
Friday, January 13, 2006 – Pool 1 – Castres Olympique 9 Munster 46, Stade Pierre Antoine
Saturday, October 29, 2005 – Pool 1 – Munster 42 Castres Olympique 16, Thomond Park
Saturday, December 11, 2004 – Pool 4 – Munster 36 Castres Olympique 8, Thomond Park
Friday, December 3, 2004 – Pool 4 – Castres Olympique 19 Munster 12, Stade Pierre Antoine
Saturday, April 27, 2002 – Semi-final – Castres Olympique 17 Munster 25, Stade de la Méditerranée
Saturday, January 12, 2002 – Pool 4 – Castres Olympique 21 Munster 13, Stade Pierre Antoine
Saturday, September 29, 2001 – Pool 4 – Munster 28 Castres Olympique 23, Thomond Park
Saturday, January 20, 2001 – Pool 4 – Munster 21 Castres Olympique 11, Musgrave Park
Saturday, October 14, 2000 – Pool 4 – Castres Olympique 29 Munster 32, Stade Pierre Antoine
Wednesday, November 8, 1995 – Pool D – Castres Olympique 19 Munster 12, Stade Antoine Beguere
Match Facts –
– This will be the 13th meeting between Castres and Munster in the European Cup, the most played fixture in the competition’s history (currently level with Edinburgh v Toulouse on 12)
· Munster have won nine of their previous 12 games against Castres, only two sides have beaten another team as often in the Champions Cup – Leicester Tigers (W10 v Benetton) and Toulouse (W10 v Edinburgh)
· Castres are without a win in their last 10 games against Irish opposition (D1, L9), although they picked up a draw in their most recent such clash with Leinster last season
European Cup Records:
Castres Olympique –
2016/17: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2014/15: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2013/14: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2012/13: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2011/12: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2010/11: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2008/09: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2006/07: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2005/06: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2004/05: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2001/02: Reached the semi-finals
2000/01: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
1995/96: Failed to qualify from Pool D
Munster –
2016/17: Reached the semi-finals
2015/16: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2014/15: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2013/14: Reached the semi-finals
2012/13: Reached the semi-finals
2011/12: Reached the quarter-finals
2010/11: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2009/10: Reached the semi-finals
2008/09: Reached the semi-finals
2007/08: Champions
2006/07: Reached the quarter-finals
2005/06: Champions
2004/05: Reached the quarter-finals
2003/04: Reached the semi-finals
2002/03: Reached the semi-finals
2001/02: Runners-up
2000/01: Reached the semi-finals
1999/00: Runners-up
1998/99: Reached the quarter-finals
1997/98: Failed to qualify from Pool D
1996/97: Failed to qualify from Pool D
1995/96: Failed to qualify from Pool D
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