Out of the 24 teams heading into next weekend’s final round of Champions Cup pool games, they’re the only two who can’t qualify for the knockout stages of the competition. Falling in to the latter category are Munster who face a must-win game against Castres at Thomond Park. But were Leinster a touch fortunate to be awarded the penalty that decided their game against La Rochelle? But Munster, he believes, are entitled to feel even more aggrieved by the “terribly harsh call” that gave Toulon their late winning kick. Gavin Cummiskey, meanwhile, takes a look at how Heimir Hallgrímsson’s players are faring in the build-up to that World Cup qualifying trip to Prague in March.

Source: The Irish Times January 13, 2026 14:29 UTC