Munster v Castres: Teams
Munster will look to maintain their unbeaten record in this season's Heineken Cup when they take on Castres in Limerick on Saturday.
Last Updated: 13/01/12 4:35pm
Munster will look to maintain their unbeaten record in this season's Heineken Cup when they take on Castres in Limerick on Saturday.
The Red Army needed a last-gasp drop-goal from Ronan O'Gara to edge past the French outfit in the away leg back in November.
Victory would almost certainly guarantee the two-time champions a place in the knock-out stages before next week's trip to Milton Keynes to face Northampton.
If Munster win and Scarlets lose, or if Scarlets win without the bonus, then the Irish Province are definitely through to the quarter-finals.
Castres, who have nothing to play for but pride, have only managed one win during this campaign and face a daunting prospect against a side that has won their last 16 Heineken Cup games at Thomond Park.
Ryan retained in second row
Munster coach Tony McGahan has retained the same team that delivered a bonus-point over Treviso win last weekend.
Perhaps the most difficult selection decision for McGahan would have centred around the second row and whether to start Donnacha Ryan or Donncha O'Callaghan. The latter made a real impression when he came on as a first-half replacement against Treviso, but Ryan has been given the nod to partner skipper Paul O'Connell in the engine room.
For Castres, sharp-shooter Pierre Bernard starts at fly-half while youngster Romain Martial is selected at full-back.
Former Sharks and Lions scrum-half Rory Kockott is on the bench along with Fijian playmaker Seremaia Bai.
Munster:15 Denis Hurley, 14 Johne Murphy, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Lifeimi Mafi, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Conor Murray, 8 James Coughlan, 7 Niall Ronan, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Paul O'Connell (c), 4 Donnacha Ryan, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Damien Varley, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Denis Fogarty, 17 Marcus Horan, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Donncha O'Callaghan, 20 Billy Holland, 21 Tomas O'Leary, 22 Ian Keatley, 23 Danny Barnes.
Castres Olympique: 15 Romain Martial, 14 Vincent Inigo, 13 Paul Bonnefond, 12 Pierre-Manuel Garcia, 11 Pierre-Gilles Lakafia, 10 Pierre Bernard, 9 Thierry Lacrampe, 8 Jannie Bornman, 7 Steve Malonga, 6 Yannick Caballero, 5 Rodrigo Capo Ortega, 4 Matthias Rolland, 3 Anton Peikrishvili, 2 Marc-Antoine Rallier, 1 Saimone Taumoepeau.
Replacements: 16 Mathieu Bonello, 17 Michaël Coetzee, 18 Karena Wihongi, 19 Scott Murray, 20 Ibrahim Diarra, 21 Rory Kockott, 22 Seremaia Bai, 23 Matthieu Nicolas.