Munster demolish 13-man Stade Francais to get Champions Cup campaign off to flyer in Thomond

Aided by the fact that Stade Francais sent a largely second-string side to Limerick, which was another blot on the tournament’s reputation, Munster made them pay for both locks Pierre-Henri Azagoh and Baptiste Pesenti being sent off within four second-half minutes of each other.

Having lost all six away games this season, Stade, who currently sit in 12th position of the Top 14, got exactly what they deserved for an indisciplined performance, and for showing little ambition with their team selection in round one of Europe.

That is none of Munster’s concern, however, as they ensured that they did not repeat the mistake of slipping up at home to another weakened French outfit, Bayonne, at the same stage of last season’s Champions Cup.

Winning both home games is crucial in terms of making the knockout stages, and that Munster picked up all five points on offer here sets them up well ahead of next Friday’s trip to Castres.

On a bitterly cold and windy night, the 17,241 supporters who braved the elements got plenty of bang for their buck.

Jack Crowley and Craig Casey picked up where they left off with Ireland last weekend, and while the half-back’s impact was crucial off the bench in the win over Australia, this time around it was from the start, as the duo controlled the game.

The fit-again Thaakir Abrahams was a real livewire, constantly hunting off his right wing and looking for involvements on both sides of the ball.

With the Munster pack, led by captain Diarmuid Barron, the abrasive back-row of Peter O’Mahony, Alex Kendellen and Gavin Coombes setting the tone, it was a good night at the office for interim head coach Ian Costello, who is now being supported by experienced New Zealander Chris Boyd following his recent arrival in Limerick as a ‘performance consultant’.

Academy lock Evan O’Connell, nephew of Paul, impressed on his first Champions Cup start, while so too did South African prop Dian Bleuler.

Shane Daly marked his 100th appearance for his home province with a stunning solo try, and with Abrahams, Kendellen, Tom Farrell and Coombes also crossing, Munster picked up the bonus point win that they were after.

An early break from the electric Abrahams had the crowd on their feet, but a couple of frustrating knock-ons and a maul turnover threatened to spoil what had been a bright opening from the home side.

That was until Crowley stepped up and started to impact the game. His clever 50:22 gave Munster another ideal attacking position, and while they had to go back for another lineout, they eventually made their pressure count.

Stade thought they had quelled the danger by stopping the maul, but Casey spotted a narrow gap down the short-side and that was all Abrahams needed to collect his scrum-half’s bullet pass and dive over in the corner.

Crowley nailed the difficult conversion for a 15th minute 7-0 lead, and the Cork native was on target again from the opposite touchline just shy of the hour mark.

Munster had lost Alex Nankivell to a yellow card for a high tackle, but the Kiwi’s team-mates managed the sin-bin extremely well.

Abrahams was at the heart of it again, as the South African did brilliantly to regather a high ball, which set the attacking wheels in motion.

Spotting Daly in space out wide, Casey ripped another scorching pass to the winger, who twice dinked the ball over a covering Stade defender to finish a superb individual try.

Crowley’s conversion doubled Munster’s advantage and they might have had a third try before the break when another grubber-kick caused havoc in the Stade defence, which just about withstood the barrage of pressure.

Another first-half try might well have killed the game as a contest, but as it was Munster didn’t have to wait long for their third score after the restart.

Abrahams and O’Mahony linked brilliantly down the left, where Stade lock Azagoh caught the latter with a high, swinging arm. Referee Luke Pearce had to choice but to send him off.

Munster immediately punished them, the maul going close before Kendellen broke off and crashed over. Things were going from bad to worse for Stade and when Pesenti dangerously lifted Casey above the horizontal, Pearce did not hesitate in reaching for his red card again.

Now playing with 13 men, gaps inevitably appeared in the Stade defence, and Farrell didn’t need a second invitation to skip through one of them on his way to securing the bonus point, Crowley adding his fourth conversion

With attention turning to next week’s trip to Castres, Munster emptied the bench and became disjointed, which allowed Clement Castets get over for a consolation try that Zack Henry converted.

Stade captain Ryan Chapuis was lucky not to be shown a card for taking out Daly off the ball late on, but it mattered little, as Coombes went over for Munster’s fifth try to get their Champions Cup campaign off to an ideal start.

Scorers – Munster: Abrahams, Daly, Kendellen, Farrell, Coombes try each; Crowley 4 cons, pen.

Stade Francais: Castets try; Henry con.

Munster – S Daly (C Casey 77); C Nash B Burns (13-25), T Farrell, A Nankivell, T Abrahams (B Burns 70); J Crowley, C Casey (P Patterson 60); D Bleuler (K Ryan 70), D Barron (capt) (N Scannell 51), J Ryan (S Archer 55); E O’Connell (T Beirne 51), F Wycherley; P O’Mahony (J O’Donoghue 60), A Kendellen (J Hodnett 55), G Coombes.

Stade Francais – J Jonas (JM Scelzo 51); C Laloi, J Marchant, P Boudehent, S Ezeala (L Carbonel 73); Z Henry, T Motassi (L Foursans-Bourdette 74); C Castets, L Peyresblanques (L Petriashvili 26-38, 60), F Gomez Kodela; PH Azagoh, B Pesenti; P Huguet (A Timo 60), R Chapuis (capt), Y Tanga (S Turagacoke 51).

Ref: L Pearce (England)