All you need to know including TV details for Munster Rugby's Champions Cup clash with Castres

MUNSTER Rugby will be looking to make it nine wins from nine at home to Castres in the Investec Champions Cup when the sides collide in a crucial pool fixture at Thomond Park this Saturday, 5.30pm.

The game is live on Premier Sports 1.

Defeat for Munster against the French Top 14 side would end their involvement in the Champions Cup as the two-time winners have lost two of their three previous pool fixtures this season.

Castres are familiar foes for Munster Rugby and this will be the 20th meeting between the sides in Europe.

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Depending on this evening's clash with their old rivals, and the meeting of Gloucester and Toulon later in the evening at 8pm, Munster could still secure home advantage for the Round of 16 in April.

However, Clayton McMillan's side could also finish bottom of the pool, and even miss the consolation of competing in the Challenge Cup.

Bath's victory over Edinburgh at The Rec on Friday night means Munster could squeeze into the top two of the pool, providing Gloucester defeat Toulon later on Saturday at Kingsholm.

Munster Rugby head coach Clayton McMillan insisted his side would be taking to the Thomond Park pitch simply with the aim of looking to overcome a strong Castres side rather than focusing on bonus points or looking to improve points difference. 

"I think there's a real danger in chasing points. They've got to be earned," McMillan said.

"So, we'll be approaching the match where it's win the game first and we'll put a good plan in place and there's been good buy-in from the players.

"And if we execute that, then we give ourselves a really good chance. And if we execute it particularly well, then it opens up the opportunity maybe for us to chase a bonus-point.

"But that's secondary to what we know we need to do and it's winning the game first.

"If we don't win, we have no chance. So that's the first thing."

Munster have won 13 of their previous 19 games against Castres in Europe, including all eight of their Thomond Park clashes.

Captain Tadhg Beirne will lead Munster on his 100th appearance for the province in Saturday evening's game.

Tickets are still available to purchase for Saturday eveming's game from here:

TEAMS: 

MUNSTER RUGBY: Shane Daly; Thaakir Abrahams, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Ben O'Connor; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Michael Ala’alatoa; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Tadhg Beirne (capt), Jack O’Donoghue, Gavin Coombes. Replacements: Lee Barron, Michael Milne, Oli Jager, Edwin Edogbo, Brian Gleeson, Ethan Coughlan, JJ Hanrahan, Dan Kelly.

CASTRES: Theo Chabouni; Christian Ambadiang, Vuate Karawalevu, Jack Goodhue, Geoffrey Palis; Pierre Popelin, Jeremy Fernandez; Atunaisa Sokobale, Loris Zarantonello, Will Collier; Gauthier Maravat, Tom Staniforth; Baptiste Delaporte (capt), Baptiste Cope, Florent Vanverberghe. Replacements: Teddy Durand-Pradere, Antoine Tichit, Aurelien Azar, Leone Nakarawa, Tyler Ardron, Santiago Arata, Enzo Herve, Atu Manu.

Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)