Hello and welcome along as Munster get their Champions Cup campaign underway.

Following the conclusion of the November Internationals, Munster welcome Stade Francais to Thomond Park with their Irish representatives back in camp.

We’ll have team line-ups for you in the next few moments as we prepare for the 5.30pm kick-off. And as always, we want to hear your thoughts, theories and observations on today’s action. Simply post in the comments section below.

Munster

15. Shane Daly
14. Calvin Nash
13. Tom Farrell
12. Alex Nankivell
11. Thaakir Abrahams
10. Jack Crowley
9. Craig Casey 

1. Dian Bleuler
2. Diarmuid Barron (captain)
3. John Ryan
4. Evan O’Connell
5. Fineen Wycherley
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Alex Kendellen
8. Gavin Coombes

Replacements:

16. Niall Scannell
17. Kieran Ryan
18. Stephen Archer
19. Tadhg Beirne
20. John Hodnett
21. Paddy Patterson
22. Billy Burns
23. Jack O’Donoghue

Stade Francais

🌸 𝙇𝘼 𝘾𝙊𝙈𝙋𝙊

Découvrez les 23 Parisiens alignés face au Munster, samedi à 18:30 💥@RyanChp capitaine💯#MUNSFP | avec ℝ𝕖𝕩𝕖𝕝 pic.twitter.com/29uzREldJ6

— Stade Français Paris (@SFParisRugby) December 6, 2024

Stade Francais

15. Joe Jonas
14. Charles Laloi
13. Joe Marchant
12. Pierre Boudehent
11. Samuel Ezeala
10. Zack Henry
9. Thibaut Motassi

1. Clement Castets
2. Lucas Peyresblanques
3. Francisco Gomez Kodela
4. Pierre-Henri Azagoh
5. Baptiste Pesenti
6. Pierre Huguet
7. Ryan Chapuis (c)
8. Yoan Tanga

Replacements

16. Luka Petriashvili
17. Moses Alo-Emile
18. Paul Alo-Emile
19. Setareki Turagacoke
20. Andy Timo
21. Juan Martin Scelzo
22. Louis Foursans-Bourdette
23. Louis Carbonel

Before kick-off…

• Ireland competition can spur Crowley to be driving force for Munster
• Roaming Alex Nankivell happy to lay roots in Munster
• ‘I was born running in the roads playing touch rugby. It was always part of me’

It’s nearly time now…

Kick-Off! Munster 0-0 Stade Francais

1 min: Munster 0-0 Stade Francais

First Munster line out is fetched successfully by Peter O’Mahony and it’s helped on by Gavin Coombes.

They move the ball across the field but the ball spills out and the visitors have it.

2 mins: Munster 0-0 Stade Francais

Stade Francais win a penalty following a good break from winger Charles Laloi. A crossfield chip is reclaimed by Munster and Jack Crowley eventually unleashes a good clearance kick.

4 mins: Munster 0-0 Stade Francais

Munster turnover the ball in the ruck. It comes out to Crowley and Thaakir Abrahams makes a super run along the win to bring Munster to Stade’s five-metre line. Could we be nearing the game’s opening try?

5 mins: Munster 0-0 Stade Francais

Crowley makes a surge to bring them closer to the line. A penalty advantage is announced for offside. Shane Daly then fumbles the ball following a challenge, so we’ll come back for the penalty.

6 mins: Munster 0-0 Stade Francais

After a brief discussion, Munster opt for the corner. We’ll get a look at their maul now.

7 mins: Munster 0-0 Stade Francais

Another clean take from O’Mahony. But the Maul is held up and a scrum is eventually awarded to Stade Francais due to the hold up.

8 mins: Munster 0-0 Stade Francais

Thibaut Motassi puts in for the scrum. The scrum goes down but Stade Francais get the ball out in time and the clearance doesn’t go far so Munster will set-up for another line-out.

10 mins: Munster 0-0 Stade Francais

Clever play from Calvin Nash as he puts himself in at the corner with a grubber kick. But he knocks it on under pressure. Stade Francais can push them back once again.

11 mins: Munster 0-0 Stade Francais

Stade Francais get a scrum after Coombes drops a pass from Crowley. The number eight was just a bit too far ahead of the pass. 

Good hands from Stade Francais moves the ball across, and they’re on the march now.

14 mins: Munster 0-0 Stade Francais

Tom Farrell does well defensively to force a turnover. Meanwhile, Calvin Nash has been called ashore for a HIA and will be replaced by Billy Burns.

Scrum to Munster which they release well. Crowley then executes a superb a 50:22 with a chip that trickles out over the line. We’re back to the corner again.

14 mins: Munster 0-0 Stade Francais

Penalty to Munster for not releasing. Burns kicks this one to set up the maul once more.

TRY! Munster 7-0 Stade Francais (Abrahams ’15)

17 mins: Munster 7-0 Stade Francais

Munster are in and they take the maximum lead as Abrahams finishes at the corner after a quick pass from Crowley. Hooker Diarmuid Barron and Peter O’Mahony linked up well again from the lineout and Abrahams has been looking lively so far.

Crowley converts.

20 mins: Munster 7-0 Stade Francais

Clever from Zack Henry to help the ball on instead of taking a pass before being tackled. But Munster haul their opponents out in to touch to get the ball back.

It’s another successful lineout and Munster will look to build again.

22 mins: Munster 7-0 Stade Francais

Stade Francais get the ball back from a Casey box-kick. The ball finds Zack Henry who boots it up and it works out brilliantly for a 50:22. Now it’s Munster’s turn to feel the pressure.

24 mins: Munster 7-0 Stade Francais

Abrahams with a turnover as he wraps up the backrower Yoan Tanga. The hosts retrieve the ball and pash their opponents back.

But they’re not out of trouble yet as the visitors launch another attack. Play has been stalled now as the referee seeks to review a tackle on Lucas Peyresblanques who is down receiving treatment.

24 mins: Munster 7-0 Stade Francais

The replay shows that it’s a high challenge from Alex Nankivell and it looks like it could be red but the referee orders him to the sinbin instead.

27 mins: Munster 7-0 Stade Francais

O’Mahony intercepts a Stade Francais to push the ball back to his troops. Stade Francais attack again, but the ball spills to Coombes and Munster go on a swift counter-attack.

They kick it up field but there’s too much pace on it, and Stade recover the ball.

28 mins: Munster 7-0 Stade Francais

Munster have been flawless from their lineout so far. Abrahams then leaps up to collect a Casey box-kick. Munster are using the width to get the ball across.

TRY! Munster 14-0 Stade Francais (Shane Daly ’29)

32 mins: Munster 14-0 Stade Francais

Shane Daly with some excellent work there. He clips the ball forward after gathering the ball from Casey. He puts on the afterburners and kicks the ball on again to evade a tackle from Henryand Charles Laloi and sprints on to catch the bouncing ball and slide over. Brilliant display of skill and composure.

Crowley is accurate again from the tee.

35 mins: Munster 14-0 Stade Francais

There’s a bit of a needle after Munster apply severe pressure to hold up Stade Francais in their try zone.

The referee then awards a penalty to Stade Francais due to Crowley using inappropriate language. 

39 mins: Munster 14-0 Stade Francais

John Ryan rips the ball away and gets Munster moving. It’s another long kick that ends up over the Stade tryline but we’re coming back for an attacking scrum for Munster.

40 mins: Munster 14-0 Stade Francais

Munster have penalty advantage as they look for a hole to poke through to get their third try of the first half. Just inches away.

41 mins: Munster 14-0 Stade Francais

They’re held up, but they have that advantage so we come back for the penalty and they opt for a tap and go.

42 mins: Munster 14-0 Stade Francais

The ball goes forward and the chance is gone.

Half-Time! Munster 14-0 Stade Francais

Thaakir Abrahams has gone over in the corner for the opening try of the game. Jack Crowley slammed over the conversion.
15mins: Munster 7-0 Stade Francais.#RTErugby
📺Watch Munster v Stade Francais LIVE on RTÉ2 pic.twitter.com/jOgGMTudoh

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 7, 2024

A quite brilliant (double) chip and chase from Shane Daly has Munster firmly in control at Thomond Park. Once again, Crowley obliges with the extras.
30min: Munster 14-0 Stade Francais
📺Watch Munster v Stade Francais LIVE on RTÉ2 pic.twitter.com/06taflwIeH

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 7, 2024

Munster 14-0 Stade Francais

Very impressive first-half showing from Munster with two tries banked already and could well have had more. They’ve been clinical in possession and ravenous when without it, winning the ball back with some excellent turnovers. And that’s while being down a player following the sin-bin of Alex Nankivell.

Second-Half: Munster 14-0 Stade Francais

42 mins: Munster 14-0 Stade Francais

Fineen Wycherley and Coombes combine to hold up Pierre-Henri Azagoh. And it’s another brilliant turnover for Munster who will put in for a scrum.

44 mins: Munster 14-0 Stade Francais

Abrahams takes a mark from an attempted cross-field kick. It’s a let-off for Munster who gave the ball away in the ruck.

47 mins: Munster 14-0 Stade Francais

Stade work some good phases together and move the ball around. But Tom Farrell pounces to reclaim possession for Munster. The ball comes to Abrahams who tries a grubber kick that deflects into touch off a Stade boot.

Munster lineout to come.

48 mins: Munster 14-0 Stade Francais

Shane Daly’s kick finds touch but doesn’t get that much distance on it, meaning the lineout will be in Munster’s half of the field. 

But O’Mahony thrives again to get his palm around the ball. Munster are off again.

48 mins: Munster 14-0 Stade Francais

Abrahams and O’Mahony combine to cut through the Stade cover. They’re held up briefly but keep hold of possession to get down to the tryline. But it’s a penalty to Stade in the end.

There was a high challenge on O’Mahony and the referee wants to take another look.

48 mins: Munster 14-0 Stade Francais

RED CARD!

Pierre-Henri Azagoh is off for a high, dangerous tackle on O’Mahony. Stade will finish the game with 14 players.

50 mins: Munster 14-0 Stade Francais

Munster back down in the corner and O’Mahony shakes off the effects of that challenge by fielding the lineout. To the maul, we go.

TRY! Munster 21-0 Stade Francais (Alex Kendellen ’50)

52 mins: Munster 21-0 Stade Francais

And it’s try number three for Munster. Deservedly so after all the territory and possession they’ve had. Alex Kendellen is the one to emerge from the maul and throws himself over.

There’s another needle now and O’Mahony has blood on his face as he gets up to his feet. The referee wants to take a look at what started this melee. 

52 mins: Munster 21-0 Stade Francais

RED CARD!

Stade lose another player as Baptiste Pesenti is ordered off for what looks a spear tackle on Craig Casey on the replay. Reckless stuff. The referee doesn’t hesitate when producing the card.

TRY! Munster 28-0 Stade Francais (Tom Farrell ’54)

57 mins: Munster 28-0 Stade Francais

Tom Farrell provides the bonus try as Munster overwhelm their opponents who are down two players. It’s a clear runway for Farrell going through and it’s a simple tap over for Crowley to put Munster cruising.

TRY! Munster 28-7 Stade Francais (Clement Castets 58′)

60 mins: Munster 28-7 Stade Francais

Intelligent play from a Stade set-piece. They take a quick one-two from the lineout and Munster don’t have the numbers to cover the corner as Casey is left isolated. The prop barrells over and Zack Henry compliments the work with a beautiful conversion strike.

He judged the wind really well to help squeeze the ball inside the far post. It’s a big reprieve for the visitors.

64 mins: Munster 28-7 Stade Francais

Big let-off for Munster there. The ball bounces dangerously in front of their tryline but there was a knock-on and there will be a Munster scrum. Paddy Patterson, who has come on for Casey, will put in.

65 mins: Munster 28-7 Stade Francais

A kick from Patterson gets caught in the wind and the ball is pulled out into touch. Munster hold up well against the Stade maul, and they’re eventually awarded with a penalty.

69 mins: Munster 28-7 Stade Francais

Stade knock the ball on but there was a Munster knock-on before that so it will be a scrum to the French side. There’s been a notable drop in the intensity of the game as we come to the last 10 minutes. The pitch is being cut up as well, making it hard for the teams to play.

72 mins: Munster 28-7 Stade Francais

Munster get out of jail again. They were caught napping entirely as Paul Alo-Emile snuck in from a lineout with no-one tracking his run. They lose it on the line and Munster clear. But not too far and Stade have another go through the maul.

74 mins: Munster 28-7 Stade Francais

Billy Burns pulls the ball out. The referee initially awarded a scrum to Munster for a knock-on but on review, he spots his error and Stade can try to work something from another set-piece.

72 mins: Munster 28-7 Stade Francais

Munster penalty which gives them another chance to push Stade back and keep the gap in that scoreline. 

77 mins: Munster 28-7 Stade Francais

Almost a Stade interception!

Mouths were opening there as Samuel Ezeala moved in to collect the ball in flight. Had he picked it, he would have had an open road ahead of him. But he fails to gather and Munster remain in control.

The referee wants to review another incident now.

78 mins: Munster 28-7 Stade Francais

That was a really heavy hit on Shane Daly who had just missed a pass and was body-checked by Ryan Chapuis. The referee urges the Stade captain to restore discipline in his team as they are already down two players with red cards. 

Very lucky to not get at least a yellow there.

TRY! Munster 33-7 Stade Francais (Gavin Coombes ’78)

Full-Time! Munster 33-7 Stade Francais

Munster 33-7 Stade Francais

Munster finish with a flourish as the numerical advantage allows them to spray the passes across the field. They maximise that width to put Gavin Coombes in at the corner.

Crowley doesn’t connect with his kick properly which is his only miss of the evening. 

Satisfying result for Munster, surely. Lots of brilliant phases of play, lots of great turnovers and some well-worked tries. They switched off at times in the second half, but they were unquestionably the better side all evening.

Munster extend their advantage. A try from a line-out, finished by Alex Kendellen, has given them a 21-0 lead after Jack Crowley's third successful conversion.#RTErugby
📺Watch Munster v Stade Francais LIVE on RTÉ2 pic.twitter.com/MVze27drrt

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 7, 2024

"This game is descending into absolute farce."
It's all kicked off at Thomond Park. Stade Francais have prompted yet another wrestling reference from our commentary team. The TMO is earning his mileage rate tonight...#RTErugby
📺Watch Munster v Stade Francais LIVE on RTÉ2 pic.twitter.com/VKG1qclYPK

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 7, 2024

"Gavin Coombes, you're not gonna stop him..."
The Munster No8 goes over in the right corner and makes it 33-7 to the hosts at Thomond Park as the final whistle approaches.
Full-Time: Munster 33-7 Stade Francais#RTErugby
📺Watch Munster v Stade Francais LIVE on RTÉ2 pic.twitter.com/OqgIk0XOBD

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 7, 2024

Well, that’s all from us folks. Our man Ciarán Kennedy is in Thomond Park this evening and will have our match report and reaction.

Thanks for being with us and we hope to have you along again soon. Until then, bye bye!