Munster out of Champions Cup after loss to Castres

Investec Champions Cup

Munster (12) 29

Cons: Crowley 2 tries: Casey 2, Abrahams, and Edogbo 2 attempts:

Castres (17) 31

In a compelling Pool Two match at Thomond Park, Munster was eliminated from this year’s Champions Cup due to a crushing defeat by Castres.

Despite Vuate Karawalevu’s two early tries, Munster’s Craig Casey responded to his own scoring with a score of 17-12 at half-time.

After the break, Thaakir Abrahams and Edwin Edogbo (2) scored the try-scorers for the home side, while Theo Chabouni, Geoffrey Palis, and Christian Amabadiang scored the visitors.

Four conversions were scored by Jeremy Fernandez and Enzo Herve in the span of a tee-ball game, which was crucial given Jack Crowley’s inconsistent performance for Munster.

The most victories Castres has had between the clubs in continental competition is six, with six coming from Castres.

Despite having lost eight of their previous visits to Limerick, the visitors appeared determined to put an end to that string in the first half.

Castres took the lead when a quick Fernandez penalty from Fernandez’s penalty put him in front, and Fernandez added the extras when Karawalevu burst through to pass Gavin Coombes.

After accepting an offload from Jack O’Donoghue, Crowley kicked the conversion, and Munster quickly responded when Casey, who had been named in the team after recovering from a shoulder injury from last week’s defeat to Toulon, dived over.

Abrahams’ good deeds were largely credited with the score, which had a little too much on it when he collected a pass from Alex Nankivell.

Four minutes before the break, Casey jumped on a pass from Niall Scannell and dotted down in the corner after the Munster maul drew nearer to the line.

Castres fought back, though, and thanks to Chabouni’s score, which the television match official (TMO) gave the all-clear, they eventually came out on top five points.

Munster restored parity after half-time with Abrahams’ score, which sent the wing’s fleet-footed wing scurrying down the right.

After Castres broke the length of the pitch, Santaigo Arata ran in after the home side, but after the match officials discussed the situation, the score was ruled out for a forward pass in the build-up.

Edogbo rolled over the line just as the hour-mark, putting five in the middle, with Crowley continuing to suffer from his poor performance as a bootleg.

When Tom Farrell dropped his weight on Ambadiang’s leg, Munster were given a yellow card, and their rivals capitalized on their numerical advantage, sending Palis over for their third try after collecting a looping pass.

Herve’s excellent conversion from wide gave his team a two-goal lead, but the Irish side’s situation deteriorated with eight minutes left.

Ambadiang tipped off a superb cross-field pass to Shane Daly, who fired the ball past him in the corner. The visitors had a nine-point lead after Herve’s successful kick.

Replacements: L. Barron, M. Milne, O. Jager, E. Edogbo, B. Gleeson, E. Coughlan, J. J. Hanrahan, and D. Kelly.

Castres: T. Chabouni, C. Ambadiang, V. Karawalevu, J. Goodhue, G. Palis, P. Popelin, J. Fernandez, A. Zarantonello, W. Collier, G. Maravat, T. Staniforth, B. Delaporte (capt), B. Cope, and F. Vanverberghe.