This Saturday, Munster Rugby will face Stade Français in the opening round of the Investec Champions Cup at Thomond Park.
Following a hard-fought victory over the Lions, Munster is eager to build on their momentum in this prestigious tournament.
The excitement is palpable as the team prepares to showcase their skills against a formidable opponent.
When to Watch
The match is scheduled for Saturday at 5:30 PM, allowing fans to tune in for what promises to be an exhilarating encounter.
How to Watch
Fans can catch all the action live on RTÉ2, ensuring they don't miss a moment of the thrilling competition at Thomond Park.
Team News
Munster Rugby is set to benefit from the return of their international stars following the Autumn Nations Series. Jack Crowley and Craig Casey start at 9 and 10, with Peter O'Mahony starting in the back row.
Investec @ChampionsCup Team News👊
©️ Diarmuid Barron captains the side in the Champions Cup for the first time!
1⃣ Evan O'Connell makes his Champions Cup debut
💯 Caps for Shane Daly
☘️ Returning internationals
🔗https://t.co/C8ByE9Axmz#SUAF 🔴 | #MUNvSFP | Round 1⃣ pic.twitter.com/LnSrY9DGg3— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) December 6, 2024
Interim head coach Ian Costello expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming match, stating,
It’s a special competition for the club. There’s always an extra level of excitement. We are going back into a competition that we love.
Hooker Diarmuid Barron, who captained Munster in their recent victory, emphasised the physical challenge that awaits against Stade Français:
A hugely physical battle first of all as a front row. They obviously have some incredible talent out wide. A huge challenge, an exciting one.
Winning becomes a habit... If you can start winning a few more games, it becomes a little bit easier.
Barron also reflected on the importance of their recent win.
On the other side, Stade Français will be without key players Julien Delbouis and Romain Briatte, who will not travel to Munster due to thigh injuries sustained in last weekend's Top 14 defeat at Bayonne.
🌸 𝙇𝘼 𝘾𝙊𝙈𝙋𝙊
Découvrez les 23 Parisiens alignés face au Munster, samedi à 18:30 💥@RyanChp capitaine💯#MUNSFP | avec ℝ𝕖𝕩𝕖𝕝 pic.twitter.com/29uzREldJ6— Stade Français Paris (@SFParisRugby) December 6, 2024
Delbouis suffered a torn quadricep during warm-up, leading to a last-minute reshuffle in the back line, while Briatte limped off shortly after the hour mark.
Additionally, loosehead Sergo Abramashvili will remain in Paris following a brain injury, and powerhouse second row JJ van der Mescht is suspended for four weeks due to a red card received in a previous match.
In better news for Stade, South African centre Jeremy Ward is set to return to the midfield after missing last weekend's match with concussion.
Meanwhile, scrum-half Jules Gimbert has been loaned to ProD2 side Nice, leaving Stade with only two available scrum-halves: experienced All Black Brad Weber and rising academy star Thibaut Motassi.
As Munster gears up for this crucial encounter, the players and coaching staff are focused on delivering a strong performance at home, showcasing what they stand for and what they represent in this prestigious competition.
The atmosphere at Thomond Park is expected to be electric, with fans rallying behind their team as they embark on this exciting journey in the Champions Cup.
