Munster survive baffling TMO decision to escape from Castres with a draw

Castres Olympique 17 Munster Rugby 17

Munster were relieved to leave the Stade Pierre Fabre with two points after surviving several late scares including what seemed a rather strange decision on a penalty from the TMO.

With the clock ticking towards 80 minutes, Dave Kilcoyne had a rush of blood to the head and a needless ruck infringement meant that Urdapilleta would have a chance into the wind to kick the go ahead score. He pulled his effort badly wide but Munster were not done with trying to shoot themselves in the foot.

Deep into injury time with scores level and Munster desperately defending their own line, Castres were denied a penalty at the breakdown by the TMO when it looked clearly like Robin Copeland had slapped the ball out of the hands of Anthony Jelonch.

Castres were awarded s scrum and went in search of creating a drop goal platform. After a number of phases and with the clock in the red, Benjamin Urdapilleta sliced a drop goal attempt well wide from kickable range. Sighs of relief amongst the Munster fans but tinged with a sense of frustration that they were their own worst enemies.

Conor Murray was sin-binned after just four minutes for a tackle on Yannick Caballero and it could have been argued that Munster were lucky not to have conceded a penalty try for the offence.

Down to 14 Munster set out to play territory and frustrate Castres. It was all going to plan until Chris Farrell threw a 50-50 ball that was picked off by South African Ebersohn who raced in for a breakaway try that Urdapillete converted.

Munster levelled when Simon Zebo cut a superb line off a Conor Murray pass to wriggle over the line under the posts with Bleyendaal adding the extras. The score looked to have settled Munster but a missed touch finder from Rory Scannell proved costly as Rodrigo Capo Ortega collected and made inroads into the Munster defence before full back Dumora finished for a fine try.

Urdapilleta landed another conversion to make it 14-7. Munster had enjoyed parity for only three minutes.

Rassie Erasmus’ side did however cut the deficit deficit to 14-10 heading to the break as Castes gave away a series of penalties close the to their own line culminating try scorer Ebershon receiving a yellow card for a blatant off side in front of the posts.

Munster took the lead for the only time soon after the break when quick-thinking Murray’s tap penalty caught the home defence off guard and prop Kilcoyne barrelled over. Tyler Bleyendaal landing a fine conversion to give his side a 17-14 lead.

But Castres levelled matters with a penalty by Urdapilleta and, although there were 30 minutes left, it proved to be the game’s final score.

Castres thought they had nudged ahead again just before the hour, but scrum-half Rory Kockott had put a foot in touch on his way to the line and it wasn’t to be.

Munster will now shift focus to tables toppers Racing 92 who visit Thomond Park next Saturday in what promises to be a tough encounter for the home side. Racing are top of the pool after their 22-18 opening day win over Leicester Tigers.

Castres: J Dumora, T Paris, A Taumoepeau, R Ebersohn, D Smith, B Urdapilleta, R Kockott; A Tichit, J Jenneker, D Kotze, L Jacquet, R Capo Ortega (capt), Y Caballero, S Mafi, M Vaipulu.

Replacements: Batlle for Dumora (64), Vialelle for Smith (75), Lazar for Tichit (71), Tussac for Kotze (74), Jelonch for Jacquet (55), Samson for Vaipulu (64).

Not used: Rallier, Radosavljevic.

Sin bin: Ebersohn (38).

Munster: Zebo, Sweetnam, Farrell, R. Scannell, Earls, Bleyendaal, Murray; Kilcoyne, N. Scannell, Archer, Flanagan, B. Holland, P. O’Mahony, O’Donnell, Stander.

Replacements: Conway for Sweetnam (66), Keatley for Bleyendaal (59), Marshall for N. Scannell (55), Ryan for Archer (55), Copeland for Flanagan (64), O’Donoghue for O’Donnell (70).

Not used: L. O’Connor, Williams.

Sin bin: Murray (5).

Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU).