Saturday’s Champions Cup action saw two-time champions Munster crash out of the pool stage after a shock home defeat to Castres at Thomond Park. Leicester Tigers are also close to the end of the pool stage. Gloucester were stunned after a home loss to Toulon. Leinster, Toulouse, via Sale Sharks
Last update: 17/01/26 10:06pm
Craig Casey’s Munster suffered a shock Champions Cup pool stage exit at home on Saturday.
Two-time European champions Munster were knocked out of the Champions Cup at the pool stage for the fourth time since 1999 when they were stunned by Castres at Thomond Park 31-29.
Castres, who have lost two of their opening three games in Pool 2, got on the board early through a Jeremy Fernandez penalty before Vuate Karawalevu crossed from close range. Munster responded in the 17th minute through Craig Casey’s converted try after a clever team move.
Munster completed the turnaround in the 35th minute when Casey fell again at the back of a rolling maul after a lineout, but Castres rallied and went into half-time with a 17-12 lead with a try from full-back Theo Chabouni.
The home side regained the level shortly after the restart when Thakir Abrhams converted a corner, but Jack Crowley was unable to add another goal down the right flank. Edwin Edogbo then added a bonus point try just before the hour to put Munster ahead 22-17. But Crowley was again off target with the conversion.
After Tom Farrell was shown a pivotal yellow card for an illegal clear-out, Castres finished strong with tries from Geoffrey Palis and Christian Ambadiang.
With five minutes remaining Castres lock Leone Nakarawa was sent to the sin-bin and Munster had another try as Edogbo came within two points but fell just short.
Leicester Tigers are on the verge of exit after losing to the Stormers in South Africa.
Leicester’s last 16 hopes were dashed after losing 39-26 to the Stormers in Cape Town.
Early tries from Evan Roos and Andre-Hugo Venter put the hosts in control before George Pearson pulled one back.
Some Will Wand magic got the Tigers back into the game at halftime and they were ahead by six early in the second half when Jamie Blamire went over.
But tries from Leolin Zas and JD Schickerling put the Stormers ahead before Tom Manz scored for Leicester.
But Imad Khan denied the Tigers a lost bonus point when his late try put the Stormers through.
Instead, losing a bonus point against Harlequins on Sunday would be enough for La Rochelle to knock Leicester out.
Gloucester were eliminated after a home loss to Toulon.
Gloucester’s Champions Cup hopes were dealt a knockout blow as Toulon kicked them out of the tournament with a 31-14 win at Kingsholm.
The French team never looked back after early tries from Gael Drean and Mathis Ferte, with Gloucester never seriously threatening a meaningful counter-attack.
Flanker Lewis Ludlam also crossed for the visitors in a one-sided first half as they ensured a home tie in the last 16, with Drean adding a bonus-point clincher in the 80th minute.
Gloucester were largely undone despite touchdowns from Jack Clement and Tomos Williams with George Barton converting both, while Toulon full-back Marius Domon’s goal kicks (four conversions and a penalty) kept his side in the driving seat.
Defeat at Gloucester meant Edinburgh advanced out of Pool 2 alongside Toulon, Bath and Castres, while George Skivington’s side have lost 11 of their 13 Gallagher Prem and Champions Cup games this season and also missed a place above the Challenge Cup.
Leinster eventually see off Bayonne to secure home advantage.
Leinster secured home advantage in the Champions Cup round of 16 with a 22-13 win at Bayonne.
Bayonne, who had lost their opening three games, including to Leicester and Harlequins, took an early lead at the Stade Jean Dauger through Sireli Maqala’s breakaway try in the 14th minute before Harry Byrne’s penalty put Leinster, who had already qualified from Pool 3, on the board.
Joris Segonds’ long-range penalty put the French side ahead after Joshua Kenny missed the ball and went over a corner. Thomas Clarkson saw a double move disallowed in the 33rd minute as Bayonne took a 10-3 halftime lead.
Bayonne’s Herschel Jantjies received a yellow card for an intentional attack in the 49th minute. Leinster took full advantage when Dan Sheehan slipped over in the 56th minute and Byrne converted to put the visitors 10-10 up.
Segonds quickly restored Bayonne’s lead by kicking another penalty on the hour, and it looked to have been erased when Jimmy O’Brien went down for a corner following Sam Prendergast’s kick, only to have his attempt ruled out by the TMO for failing to get the ball on the ground when he was tackled over the line.
Leinster finished strongly as Prendergast latched onto Byrne’s broken pass under the posts and Max Deegan crossed from a corner to confirm another hard-earned win to maintain the group’s 100% record.
Sale suffered a record-breaking defeat to Toulouse but made progress anyway.
Sale suffered a record defeat as six-time champions Toulouse avoided a shock Champions Cup exit with a resounding 77-7 victory, with 11 attempts being scored.
The Sharks’ 70-point hammering in Pool One at Stade Toulousain easily surpassed the club’s previous biggest loss – a 58-8 upset at the hands of Wasps in 2000.
A win would have eliminated the leaders of the top 14 for Alex Sanderson’s side, who have already qualified for the knockout stages but have now been eliminated from their home round of 16 place.
Kalvin Gourgues added Toulouse’s bonus-point try in the closing stages of the first half after Emmanuel Meafou, Julien Marchand and Antoine Dupont all crossed.
Sale’s Tom Curtis converted his own consolation point early in the second period before tries from Dimitri Delibes, Matthis Lebel, Thomas Ramos and Paul Graou extended the hosts’ advantage.
Joshua Brennan and Rebel completed the scoring after France star Dupont crossed for his second try of the game, while Ramos converted all 11 of his conversions.
