Munster player ratings: ‘Scrum-cap wearing’ South African winger sets ‘standard’ while Tadhg Beirne put through the ‘wringer’
Munster player ratings vs castres
Munster had their European dreams crushed by Castres at Thomond Park on Saturday evening, losing 29-31 to the French visitors in the Investec Champions Cup pool stage.
Here’s how we rated the players:
Backs
15 Shane Daly: The well-built fullback was heavily influential throughout. Using his physical presence to dominate the contact area, he broke the defensive line three times for 76 metres. However, it was his missed tackle that allowed Castres winger Christian Ambadiang to score the try that would eventually end Munster’s European hopes. 7
14 Thaakir Abrahams: The star of the Munster show. The former Sharks player displayed some of the finest footwork you’re ever likely to see on a rugby field, beating nine defenders and making four line breaks for 132 metres. He also made a great catch to set up Craig Casey’s try, and finally got on the scoresheet for Munster himself. He was thrilling from start to finish, proving once again that scrum cap-wearing South African wingers set the standard. 9
13 Tom Farrell: While his turning circle in defence wasn’t great, his ability to round defenders in attack was a sight to behold. Making three line breaks and beating four players, Farrell excelled in the open play game, choosing to keep the ball alive when possible. He also made a brilliant turnover when Castres were attacking the Munster 22 in the second half. However, his yellow card was a major turning point. 6
12 Alex Nankivell: Didn’t look too comfortable with the pace of the game, instead just made the odd tackle when required and offered a safe pair of hands. 5
11 Ben O’Connor: In the air, he was terrific. Otherwise, he offered little in attack and didn’t protect the ball well, losing it on a couple of occasions. 4
10 Jack Crowley: There’s heavy debate over who should wear the Ireland number ten shirt during the 2026 Six Nations, and after Saturday’s clash, it’s clear that the 26-year-old can step up and be counted. He was heavily involved throughout, taking the ball to the gainline and looking for an opening as he desperately tried to force a victory from the jaws of defeat. As a running ten, Crowley brought more attacking flair to the performance than many others would have done, clocking a remarkable 18 carries, three line breaks, and eight players beaten. He will be kicking himself, however, for missing three vital conversions. 8
9 Craig Casey: After taking a huge hit in the first half, Casey was at the heart of every Munster attack, providing fast and accurate ball as he worked well with his halfback partner to unleash their powerful forwards. The 26-year-old was well deserving of his two tries. 8
Forwards
8 Gavin Coombes: The versatile Irish international didn’t quite make the impact he’d have liked at the back of the scrum, but did display some soft hands that would have delighted the receiving party. 5
7 Jack O’Donoghue: The Munster stalwart showed wonderful awareness to offload for Casey’s try, and was everywhere in defence. On the flip side, he did miss a simple tackle, which allowed the opposition to streak down the centre of the pitch, and later he allowed the ball to slip out of his hands for Castres’ third try. Despite this, the overall effort was a positive one. 6
6 Tadhg Beirne: It was a dominant performance from the captain, which saw him involved in almost every play one way or another. He topped the turnovers charts for Munster, made a clean break and put his body through the wringer in the carry. His most important moment was a vital turnover in a ruck on his own 5m to halt a Castres attack. 8
5 Fineen Wycherley: The one-cap Irish lock missed four tackles, but hit hard when he made contact. In the lineout, he was solid, and his workrate was exquisite. 6
4 Jean Kleyn: The Springbok lock had a solid game. He hit all his tackles and did the dirty work necessary in the rucks. 7
3 Michael Alaalatoa: Missed three tackles and didn’t offer himself in attack enough. A poor night from the Samoan international. 4
2 Niall Scannell: Struggled with his lineout throws and didn’t get through enough work to justify his selection. 4
1 Jeremy Loughman: The star of the front row. Had to deal with a lot of the back foot, but did so with ease. Made strong carries and cleaned up well. 7
Replacements: Edwin Edogbo was the pick of the bunch. He scored the bonus point try, then powered over for his second in the dying minutes to give Munster a final chance at victory. 8
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