Munster have to win all of their remaining Champions Cup pool matches to stand a chance of qualifying for the last-eight, and Anthony Foley is hoping to use their derby victory over Ulster as a springboard back onto the European stage.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP – POOL 4: Saturday, January 9
STADE FRANCAIS (2nd) v MUNSTER (3rd), Stade Jean Bouin, 5.45pm local time/4.45pm Irish time (live Sky Sports 1 HD/FR2/beIN Sports/RTÉ Radio 1/highlights TG4)
Team News: Munster head coach Anthony Foley has named his team for Saturday’s rescheduled European Champions Cup round 2 encounter with Stade Francais at Stade Jean Bouin.
There are six changes to the side that defeated Ulster last weekend. In a significant boost, Dave Foley, Keith Earls, Conor Murray and Andrew Conway have all overcome their respective knocks to take their place in the starting line-up.
Dave Kilcoyne, Mike Sherry and BJ Botha feature in an unchanged front row, while Foley resumes his second row partnership with Mark Chisholm. The final change in the pack sees Robin Copeland come back in to join Tommy O’Donnell and captain CJ Stander in the back row, with the fit-again O’Donnell making his first European appearance of the season.
Murray rejoins Ian Keatley at half-back with Simon Zebo and Earls returning to the left and right wing respectively, while Rory Scannell and Francis Saili again form the centre pairing. The final change sees Conway selected at full-back.
Following on from Wednesday’s squad session in Limerick, Tyler Bleyendaal reported some quad tightness and was unavailable for selection.
For supporters travelling to the game, Munster flags will be distributed by the Munster Rugby Supporters Club on Saturday – at General Sarrail Place between Gates C and D at the east of the ground while stocks last.
Meanwhile, Stade Francais boss Gonzalo Quesada has made nine changes in personnel to the team that edged out Toulouse 18-17 at home in the Top 14 last weekend.
Hugo Bonneval, Paul Williams (their top try scorer with three in as many European outings), Laurent Sempere, Paul Alo Emile, Hugh Pyle and captain Sergio Parisse are the players retained from that league victory.
The fit-again Julien Dupuy is partnered at half-back by South African Morne Steyn, Fijian talents Waisea Vuidarvuwalu and Josaia Raisuqe feature at outside centre and on the left wing respectively and two-times capped French international Julien Arias comes in on the right wing.
Samoan international Zak Taulafo slots in at loosehead prop, while Paul Gabrillagues and Sekou Macalou – both promoted from the bench – and Sylvain Nicolas are the other changes up front. Former Leinster prop Heinke van der Merwe is part of a strong set of replacements.
This is the first time Munster and Stade have met in the pool stages having previously played three quarter-finals and one semi-final against each other. The province won three of those fixtures, but Stade boast an impressive record with 36 wins in 38 home European Cup games.
STADE FRANCAIS: Hugo Bonneval; Julien Arias, Waisea Vuidarvuwalu, Paul Williams, Josaia Raisuqe; Morne Steyn, Julien Dupuy; Zak Taulafo, Laurent Sempere, Paul Alo Emile, Hugh Pyle, Paul Gabrillagues, Sekou Macalou, Sylvain Nicolas, Sergio Parisse (capt).
Replacements: Laurent Panis, Heinke van der Merwe, Rabah Slimani, Gerhard Mostert, Jonathan Ross, Julien Tomas, Jules Plisson, Jonathan Danty.
MUNSTER: Andrew Conway; Keith Earls, Francis Saili, Rory Scannell, Simon Zebo; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Mike Sherry, BJ Botha, Dave Foley, Mark Chisholm, Robin Copeland, Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander (capt).
Replacements: Niall Scannell, John Ryan, Mario Sagario, Billy Holland, Jack O’Donoghue, Tomas O’Leary, Denis Hurley, Ronan O’Mahony.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Sean Brickell, Jon Hardy (both Wales)
Television Match Official: Derek Bevan (Wales)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Stade Francais to win: 1/2; Draw: 16/1; Munster to win: 15/8
Pre-Match Quotes: CJ Stander (Munster) – “You could almost say that Stade were similar to us, struggling in the last few matches and then we got a win over Ulster and they won against Toulouse. That just shows what can happen in rugby, you make a few mistakes and the other team can just punish you.
“Stade have a great team and had been going at 99% but leading up to this weekend they have hit 100% and we saw that when they beat Toulouse. That was massive for them, especially at home.
“We’re playing them at their home also and they will be massively up for it. It will be physical and exciting with guys like (Sergio) Parisse – you never know what he’s going to do.”
Keith Earls (Munster) – “It’s a massive, massive game. The pressure is on. It’s a new and big pressure for the squad that we have right now. Probably a couple of years ago, Munster would have been used to it, but this is probably, for this squad, the biggest game of our Munster careers.
“We’re just purely focusing on getting a win at the weekend and we’ll take it from there then. We’re not even looking at it as a two weeks or a three weeks, it’s literally this week, because if we don’t win this week, there’s nothing to play for then.”
Current Form – 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
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
Top Scorers – 2015/16 European Champions Cup: Stade Francais – Points: Morne Steyn, Jules Plisson, Paul Williams 15 each; Tries: Paul Williams 3; Munster – Points: Ian Keatley 27; Tries: BJ Botha, CJ Stander, Duncan Casey, Simon Zebo, James Cronin, Mike Sherry 1 each
Previous European Meetings: 4
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
European Cup Records:
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
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
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