Munster need to produce quite a backlash as they welcome Stade Francais to Thomond Park just a week on from a humbling 27-7 defeat in Paris. Although now out of the quarter-final picture, closing pool wins over Stade and Benetton Treviso would boost the province for the rest of the season.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP – POOL 4: Saturday, January 16
MUNSTER (3rd) v STADE FRANCAIS (2nd), Thomond Park, 1pm (live Sky Sports 3 HD/beIN Sports/Newstalk/Limerick’s Live 95FM/highlights TG4)
Team News: In naming his team for Saturday’s European Champions Cup return encounter with Stade Francais at Thomond Park, Munster head coach Anthony Foley has made three changes to the side that lost 27-7 in Paris.
The squad has been boosted by the news that Tommy O’Donnell, Donnacha Ryan and Jack O’Donoghue have all recovered from their respective knocks to take their place in the matchday 23.
One change in the front row sees Mario Sagario come in to make his first European start alongside Dave Kilcoyne and hooker Mike Sherry, while Dave Foley and Mark Chisholm continue in the second row.
Billy Holland is promoted to a start at blindside flanker this weekend with O’Donnell and captain CJ Stander again named at openside and number 8 respectively.
It is as you were in the half-backs and midfield with Conor Murray and Ian Keatley, and Rory Scannell and Francis Saili all featuring again in the province’s starting back-line.
The final personnel switch comes in the back-three with Ronan O’Mahony starting on the left wing. Keith Earls remains on the opposite flank with Simon Zebo making the move to full-back.
If sprung from the bench, Greencore Munster Academy prop Liam O’Connor will win his first senior cap for the province. The Ireland Under-20 international has featured heavily for Munster ‘A’ in this season’s British & Irish Cup, starting in three of the side’s four games. Hooker Kevin O’Byrne is also included among the replacements and will make his European debut if brought on.
On the injury front, Niall Scannell sustained a shoulder injury during yesterday’s squad session and will be monitored by the Munster medical staff across the coming days.
Over 18,000 tickets have now been sold for Saturday’s game between Munster and Stade. Tickets are available online here or at the ground on matchday. Tickets start from €;20 (adults), €;60 (family) and €;10 (student).
Meanwhile, Stade Francais boss Gonzalo Quesada has made five personnel changes and two positional switches to the side that overcome Foley’s charges by 20 points in the rescheduled round 2 tie.
Fijian winger Josaia Raisuqe was handed a 15-week ban after being sent-off for making contact with the eye area of CJ Stander during last Saturday’s game. His absence this week sees Waisea Vuidarvuwalu move to the right wing with Jonathan Danty coming in to partner Paul Wiliams in the centre.
Up front, hooker Laurent Panis and tighthead prop Rabah Slimani are restored to the starting line-up, experienced second row Pascal Pape returns from injury and South African flanker Jonathan Ross is promoted from the bench.
Stade have never won at Thomond Park but are now the best placed runners-up in all five pools as they look to reach the European Cup quarter-finals for the first time in six years.
MUNSTER: Simon Zebo; Keith Earls, Francis Saili, Rory Scannell, Ronan O’Mahony; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Mike Sherry, Mario Sagario, Dave Foley, Mark Chisholm, Billy Holland, Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander (capt).
Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, Liam O’Connor, John Ryan, Donnacha Ryan, Robin Copeland, Jack O’Donoghue, Tomas O’Leary, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.
STADE FRANCAIS: Hugo Bonneval; Waisea Vuidarvuwalu, Jonathan Danty, Paul Williams, Julien Arias; Morne Steyn, Julien Dupuy; Zak Taulafo, Laurent Panis, Rabah Slimani, Paul Gabrillagues, Pascal Pape, Sekou Macalou, Jonathan Ross, Sergio Parisse (capt).
Replacements: Zurabi Zhvania, Heinke van der Merwe, Paul Alo Emile, Hugh Pyle, Sylvain Nicolas, Julien Tomas, Jules Plisson, Jeremy Sinzelle.
Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Assistant Referees: Tom Foley, Paul Dix (both England)
Television Match Official: Graham Hughes (England)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Munster to win: 4/5; Draw: 16/1; Stade Francais to win: 11/10
Pre-Match Quotes: Mike Sherry (Munster) – “We have everything to play for, we are playing at Thomond Park in Europe against a French team. Me personally, I am playing in a rugby team with my closest friends, playing in front of my family, my girlfriend, my friends that I went to school with, and I am playing in front of Munster supporters.
“It doesn’t matter if we are out of Europe or we got hockeyed the week before, we have got everything to play for. The coaches are getting stick, the players are being criticised – are we a good enough group, do we have enough talent, heart? People are maybe tightening up and one error compounds into another.
“I do believe in us, I do believe we have enough skill, enough heart and enough talent to get out of this. It’s about trotting up and doing it now. I was in front of (the media) a few weeks ago (after the defeat at Leicester) and I feel like I am repeating myself, I am trying not to but we just need to show up week after week and do our jobs which we are not doing at the minute.
“I don’t think we will struggle to put in a performance. If you can’t perform this weekend, or you can’t get yourself up for it, I am not sure if you should play on this team. The performance will come from our preparation, the structures we have from actually doing our job as professional rugby players, and if we do that I think we can win.
“It’s not about us and them, this weekend it’s about us. It doesn’t matter who we are playing. If we were playing Treviso away and we had lost the weekend before we’d still have the same mindset. We need a win. We need a performance and we need to show people how much it means to us and how much it means to play for Munster and what it means to this group.”
Gonzalo Quesada (Stade Francais) – “You look at the table and the mathematics, then this game is a huge opportunity for the club. But we know the spirit of Munster and especially at Thomond Park. They have a passion for playing there that will be a huge motivation for them.
“I will warn my players to prepare with extra humility because of the level of commitment and fight Munster will show to defend their territory.”
Current Form – Munster – (GUINNESS PRO12): Won 18-13 at home to Benetton Treviso; Won 20-18 away to the Ospreys; Won 23-21 at home to Glasgow Warriors; Won 35-27 at home to Cardiff Blues; Lost 25-22 away to the Scarlets; Won 32-28 at home to Ulster; Won 16-14 away to Edinburgh; (European Champions Cup): Won 32-7 at home to Benetton Treviso; (GUINNESS PRO12): Lost 18-12 at home to Connacht; Lost 22-6 away to the Newport Gwent Dragons; (European Champions Cup): Lost 31-19 at home to Leicester Tigers; Lost 17-6 away to Leicester Tigers; (GUINNESS PRO12): Lost 24-7 at home to Leinster; Won 9-7 away to Ulster; (European Champions Cup): Lost 27-7 away to Stade Francais
Stade Francais – (Top 14 Championship): Won 34-18 at home to Pau; Lost 22-13 away to Brive; Lost 20-13 at home to Toulon; Lost 44-20 away to Montpellier; Won 22-9 at home to Castres Olympique; Lost 27-18 away to Racing 92; Lost 28-23 away to Agen; Won 14-9 at home to Clermont Auvergne; (European Champions Cup): Lost 33-20 away to Leicester Tigers; (Top 14 Championship): Won 21-19 away to Grenoble; Lost 24-21 at home to Bordeaux-Begles; (European Champions Cup): Won 50-17 away to Benetton Treviso; Won 40-14 at home to Benetton Treviso; (Top 14 Championship): Lost 25-12 away to Oyonnax; Won 18-17 at home to Toulouse; (European Champions Cup): Won 27-7 at home to Munster
Top Scorers – 2015/16 European Champions Cup: Munster – Points: Ian Keatley 27; Tries: BJ Botha, CJ Stander, Duncan Casey, Simon Zebo, James Cronin, Mike Sherry, Conor Murray 1 each; Stade Francais – Points: Morne Steyn 27; Tries: Paul Williams 4
Previous European Meetings: 5
Saturday, January 9, 2016 – Pool 4 – Stade Francais 27 Munster 7, Stade Jean Bouin
Saturday, April 10, 2004 – Quarter-final – Munster 37 Stade Francais 32, Thomond Park
Saturday, January 26, 2002 – Quarter-final – Stade Francais 14 Munster 16, Stade Jean Bouin
Saturday, April 21, 2001 – Semi-final – Stade Francais 16 Munster 15, Stadium Nord
Saturday, April 15, 2000 – Quarter-final – Munster 27 Stade Francais 10, Thomond Park
Match Facts –
– Munster’s defeat to Clermont Auvergne in last year’s competition was the first time they had ever lost at home to French opposition in Europe (W23, L1)
– Conversely, Stade Francais have won just twice in nine visits to Ireland, beating Leinster in 1998 and Ulster in 2008
– Munster have won both of their previous home games against Stade Francais, in 2000 and 2004
– It is over 10 years (2004/05) since Stade have won two away games in the pool stages of the European Cup
European Cup Records:
Munster –
2014/15: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2013/14: Reached the semi-finals
2012/13: Reached the semi-finals
2011/12: Reached the quarter-finals
2010/11: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2009/10: Reached the semi-finals
2008/09: Reached the semi-finals
2007/08: Champions
2006/07: Reached the quarter-finals
2005/06: Champions
2004/05: Reached the quarter-finals
2003/04: Reached the semi-finals
2002/03: Reached the semi-finals
2001/02: Runners-up
2000/01: Reached the semi-finals
1999/00: Runners-up
1998/99: Reached the quarter-finals
1997/98: Failed to qualify from Pool D
1996/97: Failed to qualify from Pool D
1995/96: Failed to qualify from Pool D
Stade Francais –
2009/10: Reached the quarter-finals
2008/09: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2007/08: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2006/07: Reached the quarter-finals
2005/06: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2004/05: Runners-up
2003/04: Reached the quarter-finals
2001/02: Reached the quarter-finals
2000/01: Runners-up
1999/00: Reached the quarter-finals
1998/99: Reached the semi-finals
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