Munster must find discipline and rhythm or it’s the last waltz

Munster must combine discipline and tradition to avoid a damaging Champions Cup finale against a strong Castres side

Jeremy Loughman during Munster Rugby squad training at the University of Limerick in Limerick. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

A familiar dance and a perennial partner, but Munster have work to do to ensure Saturday’s Champions Cup pool finale against old foes Castres does not turn into a last waltz of the campaign.

In its current format, elimination before the knockout stages could be a sign of existential threat to a club, a focus on different priorities, or rank ineptitude. None of those applies to Clayton McMillan’s Munster right now but a failure to collect a bonus-point victory at Thomond Park would increase the likelihood of a Round of 16 exit away to a higher seed come April.