Erratic Munster must be wary of Castres champagne show

IT’S just as well that Munster invariably follow a sequence of poor league matches with much-improved performances when European activity resumes.

Otherwise, you would have to fear for their prospects when Castres come calling to Thomond Park on Saturday for a game that means little or nothing to the visitors but is all-important for the hosts.

Munster were well below par not only in scraping a bonus-point win over Treviso on Saturday night but also in losing heavily to Ulster the week before. A repeat of that form could lead the French, a team renowned for showing little or no interest in European affairs once they have fallen out of contention, to lift their game in a bid to achieve what only one team has ever done before — defeat Munster at their Limerick fortress in the Heineken Cup.