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Munster hit bonus against 13-man Stade Francais

Updated / Sunday, 8 Dec 2024 23:28
Thaakir Abrahams opens the scoring for Munster
Thaakir Abrahams opens the scoring for Munster

Shane Daly scored a superb try on his 100th appearance as Munster started off their Champions Cup campaign with a comfortable 33-7 win over 13-man Stade Francais at Thomond Park.

The two-time champions were in control of proceedings at the start of the second half when both of the visiting locks were sent off for dangerous tackles in a four-minute spell of madness.

First-half tries from Thaakir Abrahams and Daly, and two Jack Crowley conversions, had Ian Costello's side, still looking for a permanent head coach since parting ways with Graham Rowntree in October, ahead but their task was made much easier when the Stade discipline disappeared.

Alex Kendellen scored from the play after the first red card, while Tom Farrell coasted over for the bonus point score soon after the second sending off.

The French side managed a consolation try but it was too little too late and Gavin Coombes wrapped up the scoring in the final minute.

Munster will hope that this performance can be the catalyst to put their inconsistent early-season form behind them, and have plenty to be pleased with ahead of Friday night's Pool 3 trip to Castres, who lost 38-8 to Northampton earlier on Saturday.

Perhaps mindful of the need to keep moving in the freezing conditions in the wake of Storm Darragh, the teams kept a good tempo in the early exchanges, a quick tap penalty by Stade signalling they were here to play, while Alex Nankivell and Abrahams combined for a half chance.

Munster were keen to spread it wide once they entered French territory and Nankivell, who signed a new deal during the week, was making ground each time.

The hosts were forced into a change in the 13th minute with Billy Burns replacing Calvin Nash, who had earlier knocked on on the tryline, for a head injury assessment.

That pushed Crowley to full-back and his first involvement from there, a 50:22 kick, led to the opening score.

The outstanding Peter O'Mahony claimed a lineout throw and Craig Casey fixed his man on the shortside before popping to man of the match Abrahams, who flopped over; Crowley added two from the sideline.

Stade eventually worked a spell of territory inside the Munster 22 after a Zack Henry 50:22 but the hosts' defence was solid, a maul turnover five metres out was their third in the opening quarter.

Costello's side were reduced to 14 for 10 minutes when Nankivell went high on hooker Lucas Peyresblanques, who needed a head injury assessment but O'Mahony came up with a lineout steal to relieve the pressure.

Moments later they were down the other end celebrating their second try, a superb effort in line for score of the round.

Abrahams jumped highest to take down a Casey box kick on halfway and a dozen Munster men kept the ball alive before the scrum-half fizzed a pass out to Daly on the far wing.

Restored at full-back, Daly chipped over Henry and perfectly judged a hack through before winning the race to touch down with Crowley again adding the extras.

Munster looked certain to add a third before the break but, after an O'Mahony clearance led to a five-metre scrum, they couldn't convert.

Firstly, new short-terming signing Dian Bleuler was held up over the line and then O'Mahony fumbled the ball forward and the Parisians went in just 14-0 down.

Both sides were tentative at the start of the second half with a big hit from Nankivell and a half-break by Evan O'Connell, on his European debut, lifting the crowd of 17,241 in Limerick.

Munster made 50 yards after another lineout steal by O'Mahony 10 minutes in and the Ireland back row was hit by a reckless swinging forearm by lock Pierre-Henri Azagoh, who was shown a red card by Luke Pearce.

There was little in the way of French resistance from the subsequent lineout maul and Kendellen touched down for the score with Crowley again converting.

From the restart, Stade, hovering just above the Top14 relegation zone, lost another man.

Casey dummied at the base of a ruck but walked straight into Baptiste Pesenti who needlessly lifted up the scrum-half and flipped him back onto the ground, setting off a melee from which O'Mahony, outstanding throughout, emerged with a cut on his face.

Referee Pearce needed less time to dispatch the second row and reduce Paul Gustard's side to 13.

When replacement hooker Niall Scannell broke away from the subsequent lineout, Munster were on their way to a bonus point.

The ball was recycled quickly after Kendellen was stopped short and Farrell found plenty of space to dot down under the sticks for a converted try.

Munster brought on a raft of replacements with the result beyond doubt and the visitors soon struck for their only score, a quick move at the front of a lineout on the 22 saw loosehead Clement Castets power over with Henry converting.

Stade were lucky not to have captain Ryan Chapuis at least yellow-carded for a challenge on Daly, which also required a HIA, but the hosts had the last say when Coombes touched down in the corner.

SCORERS

Munster: Tries - Abrahams, Daly, Kendellen, Farrell. Coombes

Cons: Crowley (4)

Stade: Tries - Castets

Cons: Henry

Munster: Shane Daly; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Dian Bleuler, Diarmuid Barron (capt), John Ryan; Evan O'Connell, Fineen Wycherley; Peter O'Mahony, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Niall Scannell (for Barron 51) , Kieran Ryan (Bleuler 70) , Stephen Archer (J Ryan 55) , Tadhg Beirne (O'Connell 51), John Hodnett (Kendellen 55), Paddy Patterson (Casey 60), Billy Burns (Nash 13-25 and Abrahams 70), Jack O'Donoghue (O'Mahony 60).

Stade Francais: Joe Jonas; Charles Laloi, Joe Marchant, Pierre Boudehent, Samuel Ezeala; Zack Henry, Thibaut Motassi; Clement Castets, Lucas Peyresblanques, Francisco Gomez Kodela; Pierre-Henri Azagoh, Baptiste Pesenti; Pierre Huguet, Ryan Chapuis (capt), Yoan Tanga.

Replacements: Luka Petriashvili (for Peyresblanques 26-38 and 60), Moses Alo-Emile, Paul Alo-Emile, Setareki Turagacoke (Tanga 51), Andy Timo (Huguet 60), Juan Martin Scelzo (Jonas 51), Louis Foursans-Bourdette (Motassi 74), Louis Carbonel (Ezeala 73).

Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)

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