Munster secured a 33-07 bonus point win over Stade Francais Paris at Thomind Park In their round 1 match of the 2024/25 Investec Champions Cup.
After what was a competitive opening to their Investec Champions Cup campaigns, it was the Irish side who went into the break the happier of the two.
Thaakir Abrahams opened the scoring for the hosts, touching down in the first 15 minutes before Shale Daly scored a try of his own to celebrate his 100th appearance in the perfect way.
Conversions thanks to Jack Crowley saw Munster lead by 14-0 at the break.
Things didn’t get off to the required start in the second half for the French outfit after Pierre-Henri Azagoh got sent off for a dangerous strike before Munster immediately profited off the man advantage to seal another try.
Stade Francais’ woes were added to even further just two minutes later when Baptiste Pesenti became the second Parisian to see red in five minutes.
It was the same Stade Francais red card-Munster try combination the second time round which ended it as a contest before Gavin Coombes sealed the fifth touchdown for the hosts.
Scorers:
Munster Rugby: Tries: Thaakir Abrahams, Shane Daly, Alex Kendellen, Tom Farrell, Gavin Coombes. Conversions: Jack Crowley (4).
Stade Francais Paris: Try: Clement Castets. Conversion: Zack Henry.
Teams:
Munster Rugby: 15 Shane Daly, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 Alex Kendellen, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Evan O’Connell, 3 John Ryan, 2 Diarmuid Barron (c), 1 Dian Bleuler. 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 Paris: 15 Joe Jonas, 14 Charles Laloi, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Pierre Boudehent, 11 Samuel Ezeala, 10 Zack Henry, 9 Thibaut Motassi, 8 Yoan Tanga, 7 Ryan Chapuis (c), 6 Pierre Huguet, 5 Baptiste Pesenti, 4 Pierre-Henri Azagoh, 3 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2 Lucas Peyresblanques, 1 Clement Castets. 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.