The Champions Cup has made its triumphant return this weekend amid atrocious conditions in Ireland and Britain. There was a throwback feel to proceedings in Limerick as Munster made it two wins from two by beating a 13-man Stade Francais 33-7, as high winds swirled around Thomond Park.
It was a five-try, bonus point victory that will prove hugely beneficial for interim head coach Ian Costello as he tries to turn the corner on Munster's woeful start to the season.
However the match will be remembered by two moments of outrageous indiscipline from Stade Francais with a four-minute window in the second half.
The first occurred with Munster leading 14-0. Peter O'Mahony was running near the touch line after a gorgeous kick-and-chase while being pursued by Stade second row Pierre-Henri Azagoh. The French player unleashed a wild arm chop around O'Mahony's neck. Ref Luke Pearce deliberated over the incident before flashing a red card for the challenge.
This was disgraceful stuff from Pierre-Henri Azagoh on Peter O'Mahony
Rightfully called as the first of Stade Francais' two red cardspic.twitter.com/7Fld5uuqjg— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) December 7, 2024
The second one happened just minutes later with Munster leading 21-0. Stade's other second row Baptise Pesenti attempted a literal piledriver on Munster's diminutive second row Craig Casey. He too was sent off and Stade were down to 13 players.
First time we've seen a pile driver attempted on a rugby pitch.
Another red for Stade Francais.🔴🔴pic.twitter.com/trYJzKSCLN— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) December 7, 2024
The game was effectively over at this stage, and Munster would score two more tries, while allowing one.
Speaking on RTÉ after the game, Bernard Jackman said he expected a ban for Azogah.
We haven't actually seen anything like that in awhile. Most of the red card decisions are crocodile rolls or the Nankivell's with a little more force. But that was just indiscipline, someone getting very frustrated and having a cheap shot...I think he'll get a big ban."
Speaking about the second red, Jackman said:
"It's such an outlandish [incident]...five minutes of madness from Stade. At the first red card, they were still in the game, it was only 14-0. They'll be so disappointed with that because - I said it on the commentary - they came here wanting to impose themselves on the game, but as soon they found they weren't getting it their own way, they actually started losing their heads. With the French teams, when one goes a few can go, and that was it.
Stade coach Paul Gustard told RTÉ Sport that the two red cards were too much to overcome:
"It's difficult to watch. The first one, probably no complaints, the second one was one of those that looks a bit worse than it was. I can understand why it was a red card but to lose both the second rows, it took a lot of juggling around.
"In the end it was just too much, you can't play against a team with the international quality that Munster have and try and win a match."
These kinds of reckless red cards are mostly gone from rugby and they gave the game a decidedly retro feel. In fact Pearse could have sent off Alex Nankivell and the Stade captain. The essential APSM Twitter account shared the unbelievable scrap between Toulon and Begles on Friday, and it truly whet our appetites for this match.
1991 RC Toulon vs CA Bègles pic.twitter.com/EK4ELa0V28
— APSM Rugby Channel 🏉 (@ApsmRugby) December 6, 2024
