Castres 13 – 16 Munster

Munster secured a third Heineken Champions Cup victory of the season in dramatic late fashion – confirming their round-of-16 place – as Gavin Coombes scored with virtually the final attack of the game after Castres had led via two Ben Botica penalties and a converted Thomas Larregain try

Munster’s Gavin Coombes celebrates his last-gasp try to beat Castres in France in the Champions Cup

A Gavin Coombes try in the final stages saw Munster snatch a 16-13 Heineken Champions Cup victory over Castres at the Stade Pierre-Fabre. 

Munster, who knew victory in France would confirm a round-of-16 place, went into a 3-0 lead courtesy of 22-year-old out-half Jack Crowley – playing with Joey Carbery and Ben Healy unavailable.

Castres responded with a try through full-back Thomas Larregain, and led for the majority thereafter as Ben Botica and Crowley traded four further penalties.

That was until Coombes’ intervention in the closing minutes, as, on penalty advantage, he reached out to score the match-winner.

More to follow…