Castres 13-16 Munster: Late Gavin Coombes try secures Munster's place in last 16

Coombes' late try saw Munster move to the top of Champions Cup Pool B with three wins from three

Gavin Coombes' 78th-minute try gave Munster a last-gasp win over Castres that secured their place in the last 16 of the Champions Cup.

Castres led for most of the contest thanks to the boot of Ben Botica and Thomas Larregain's first-half try.

However Coombes' late sucker punch saw the Top 14 side fall to another defeat than leaves them winless in the competition after three games.

Munster remain second in Pool B, one point behind Harlequins.

Castres reported six positive Covid-19 cases on Friday, but having had them confirmed prior to Thursday's team announcement, the game was able to go ahead.

It looked as though the hosts would come out on top of an intriguing tactical encounter, having stolen a line-out on their own five-metre line before winning a penalty with five minutes remaining.

However, Munster ventured forward one more time, with Coombes reacting quickest to space on the fringe of a ruck to stretch over from close range for the crucial score.

Thomas Larregain scored the only try of the first half to put Castres ahead

Larregain's 28th-minute try was a rare moment of flair in a first half otherwise low on high-quality attacking moments.

After Ben Crowley kicked Munster into an early lead the game struggled to find any rhythm with defences coming out on top more often than not.

Peter O'Mahony was a brilliantly disruptive presence in the maul while Castres twice stole line-outs deep in their own territory to keep the visitors at bay.

The home side found a breakthrough just before the half hour mark when Botica delicately chipped over the top for Larregain to gather across the line.

Munster had been stifled in attack, but came out after the interval with renewed vigour and sought to use the full width of the field in the hope of finding space on the edge.

Twice they worked their way up the field, passing through the hands and drawing two penalties that Crowley converted to put his side in front by the 50th minute.

But Botica sent two penalties over to put Castres four points up going into the final 10 minutes. When they turned over the ball after O'Mahony had sent his side into the corner instead of opting for an easy three points, it looked as though the French club were on their way to a much-needed European win.

However, Munster held their nerve in the last attack to drive up to the line once more, with Coombes spotting enough space on the short side to claim the decisive score.

Munster: Haley; Conway, Farrell, R Scannell, Earls; Crowley, Murray; Kilcoyne, N Scannell, Archer; Wycherley, Beirne; O'Mahony (capt), O'Donoghue, Coombes.

Replacements: Barron, Loughman, Ryan, Kleyn, Hodnett, Casey, Flannery, Daly.

Castres: Larregain; Zeghdar, Combezou, Aguillon, Nakosi; Botica, Arata Perrone; Tichit, Humbert, Guillamon; Jacquet (capt), Whetton; Kafatolu, Meka, Delaporte.

Replacements: Colonna, Nostadt, Tierney, Ryno Pieterse, Hermet, Kockott, Le Brun, Guillemin.

• The Apprentice is back: Who will be the first to be told: 'You're fired'?

• Family. Loyalty. Honour: The Peaky Blinders series 6 trailer is here