Preview | Munster primed and ready for Castres challenge in France

Munster prepare themselves for their Champions Cup tie against Castres despite 6 positive cases in the French camp

Munster take on Castres this weekend in Stade Pierre-Fabre. The away team have quite a good record in this fixture and judging on their recent adjustments they look set to do the same tonight.

Munster captain Peter O’Mahony rejoins the team after injury as captain. The game is set to be a grueling encounter with Castres loss to Harlequins ending an impressive run of form in the Champions Cup with the French side unbeaten in ten previous to that.

The French side are third in the Top 14 and have a pair of losing bonus points in the Champions Cup. The odds are stacked against Munster as they have not won consecutive games against Top 14 opposition since 2009.

Line-ups

Munster:  Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Jack Crowley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (C), Jack O’Donoghue, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements:  Diarmuid Barron, Jeremy Loughman, John Ryan, Jean Kleyn, John Hodnett, Craig Casey, Jake Flannery, Shane Daly.

Castres Olympique: Thomas Larregain; Antoine Zeghdar, Thomas Combezou, Pierre Aguillon, Filipo Nakosi; Ben Botica, Santiago Arata Perrone; Antoine Tichit, Brice Humbert, Antoine Guillamon; Loic Jacquet (C), Jack Whetton; Mateaki Kafatolu, Simon Meka, Baptiste Delaporte.

Replacements:  Pierre Colonna, Julius Nostadt, Matthew Tierney, Ryno Pieterse, Hugo Hermet, Rory Kockott, Louis Le Brun, Bastien Guillemin.

Kick off is at 8pm Irish time.