Munster Vs. SFP: Peter O'Mahony, Munster Get Physical In Champions Cup Win
Munster Vs. SFP: Peter O'Mahony, Munster Get Physical In Champions Cup Win
A red card in the second half showed how much fight Munster Rugby will have in the Investec Champions Cup.
After Stade Francais player Baptiste Pesenti used what looked like a professional wrestling move to tackle Craig Casey of Munster, veteran rugby star Peter O'Mahony was having none of it.
The veteran, who likely is playing his final season for Munster Rugby, responded with several blows to STF players, as the teams became heated following Pesenti's red card.
But Munster already was doing the squashing in the Round 1 Investec Champions Cup match, beating the Top 14 club from Paris 33-7 in Pool 3 action at Thomond Park in Limerick, Ireland on Dec. 7.
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It was Munster's second match after firing coach Graham Rowntree in late October, and so far, the club is 2-0-0 after winning in URC action the previous weekend.
Munster’s clinical finishing and defensive discipline overwhelmed a Stade Français side that struggled after multiple red cards.
Munster Rugby Dominates From The Start
Munster opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Thaakir Abrahams crossed the line for the first try, converted by Jack Crowley.
A yellow card to Alex Nankivell in the 24th minute threatened to slow Munster’s momentum, but Shane Daly’s try five minutes later, and another conversion from Crowley, extended the lead to 14-0 by halftime.
Discipline Costs Stade Français
Stade Français’ comeback hopes were dashed early in the second half when Pierre-Henri Azagoh received a red card in the 48th minute.
Munster capitalized immediately, with Alex Kendellen scoring a try, converted by Crowley, to make it 21-0.
Another red card for Stade Français—this time for Baptiste Pesenti in the 52nd minute—added to the woes.
Munster’s Tom Farrell added a try in the 54th minute, again converted by Crowley, to push the score to 28-0.
Stade Français finally found the scoreboard in the 58th minute through a try from Clement Castets, converted by Zack Henry, but it was too little, too late.
Munster scored one last try in the final two minutes.
What's Next For Munster Rugby, SFP Rugby?
Munster will travel to France to play Castres in Round 2, while SFP will head home to play Saracens.
Munster Rugby vs. SFP Scoring Summary
Munster Rugby: Tries: Abrahams (15’), Daly (29’), Kendellen (49’), Farrell (54’), Gavin Coombes (78'); Conversions: Crowley (16’, 30’, 50’, 55’, 78')
Stade Français Paris: Try: Castets (58’); Conversion: Henry (59’)
Munster Vs. SFP Highlights From Round 1 Of Investec Champions Cup
Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Round 1
- La Rochelle 24, Bath Rugby 20
- ASM Clermont Auvergne 28, Benetton Rugby 0
- Hollywoodbets Sharks 39 Exeter Chiefs 21
- Northampton Saints 38, Castres Olympique 8
- RC Toulon 24, DHL Stormers 14
- Munster Rugby 33, Stade Francais Paris 7
- Saracens 27, Vodacom Bulls 5
- Glasgow Warriors vs. Sale Sharks, Sat, Dec 7, 2024, 3 PM, Scotstoun Stadium
- Racing 92 vs. Harlequins, Sat, Dec 7, 2024, 3 PM, Stade Dominique Duvauchelle
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Leicester Tigers, Sun, Dec 8, 2024, 8 AM, Stade Chaban-Delmas
- Stade Toulousain vs. Ulster Rugby, Sun, Dec 8, 2024, 10:15 AM, Stade Ernest Wallon
- Bristol Bears vs. Leinster Rugby, Sun, Dec 8, 2024, 12:30 PM, Ashton Gate
Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Round 2
- Sale Sharks vs. Racing 92, Fri, Dec 13, 2024, 3 PM, Salford Community Stadium
- Castres Olympique vs. Munster Rugby, Fri, Dec 13, 2024, 3 PM, Stade Pierre-Fabre
- Vodacom Bulls vs. Northampton Saints, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 8 AM, Loftus Versfeld
- Ulster Rugby vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 10:15 AM, Kingspan Stadium
- Leinster Rugby vs. ASM Clermont Auvergne, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 12:30 PM, Aviva Stadium
- Leicester Tigers vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 12:30 PM, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
- Stade Rochelais vs. Bristol Bears, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 3 PM, Stade Marcel Deflandre
- Harlequins vs. DHL Stormers, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 3 PM, Twickenham Stoop
- RC Toulon vs. Glasgow Warriors, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 8 AM, Stade Felix Mayol
- Benetton Rugby vs. Bath Rugby, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 8 AM, Stadio Monigo
- Stade Francais Paris vs. Saracens, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 10:15 AM, Stade Jean Bouin
- Exeter Chiefs vs. Stade Toulousain, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 12:30 PM, Sandy Park
Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Round 3
- Glasgow Warriors vs. Racing 92, Fri, Jan 10, 2025, 3 PM, Scotstoun Stadium
- DHL Stormers vs. Sale Sharks, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 8 AM, DHL Stadium
- Exeter Chiefs vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 10:15 AM, Sandy Park
- Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Stade Toulousain, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 10:15 AM, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
- Munster Rugby vs. Saracens, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 12:30 PM, Thomond Park
- Stade Francais Paris vs. Northampton Saints, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 12:30 PM, Stade Jean Bouin
- Leicester Tigers vs. Ulster Rugby, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 3 PM, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
- Castres Olympique vs. Vodacom Bulls, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 3 PM, Stade Pierre-Fabre
- RC Toulon vs. Harlequins, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 8 AM, Stade Felix Mayol
- Stade Rochelais vs. Leinster Rugby, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Marcel Deflandre
- Bristol Bears vs. Benetton Rugby, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:15 AM, Ashton Gate
- Bath Rugby vs. ASM Clermont Auvergne, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 12:30 PM, The Rec
Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Round 4
- Ulster Rugby vs. Exeter Chiefs, Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 3 PM, Kingspan Stadium
- Vodacom Bulls vs. Stade Francais Paris, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 8 AM, Loftus Versfeld
- Northampton Saints vs. Munster Rugby, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 10:15 AM, cinch Stadium @ Franklin's Gardens
- ASM Clermont Auvergne vs. Bristol Bears, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Marcel-Michelin
- Benetton Rugby vs. Stade Rochelais, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 12:30 PM, Stadio Monigo
- Leinster Rugby vs. Bath Rugby, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 12:30 PM, Aviva Stadium
- Harlequins vs. Glasgow Warriors, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 3 PM, Twickenham Stoop
- Racing 92 vs. DHL Stormers, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 3 PM, Paris La Defense Arena
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 8 AM, Stade Chaban-Delmas
- Saracens vs. Castres Olympique, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 10:15 AM, StoneX Stadium
- Stade Toulousain vs. Leicester Tigers, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Ernest Wallon
- Sale Sharks vs. RC Toulon, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 12:30 PM, Salford Community Stadium
Investec Champions Cup Format
Key points of the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup:
- A multi-pool format, as launched in the 2023-2024 season
- 24 elite clubs - eight each from the Gallagher Premiership, URC and TOP 14 - in four pools of six
- Sporting jeopardy, with each club playing against four different opponents, home or away, in the pool stage
- Four highest-ranked clubs in each pool qualify for the Round of 16
- The Investec Champions Cup will be played over eight weekends, with four pool rounds and four knockout rounds culminating in the 2025 final, which will be staged at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Saturday, May 24.
Investec Champions Cup Weekends
- Round 1 – 6/7/8 December 2024
- Round 2 – 13/14/15 December 2024
- Round 3 – 10/11/12 January 2025
- Round 4 – 17/18/19 January 2025
- Round of 16 – 4/5/6 April 2025
- Quarter-finals – 11/12/13 April 2025
- Semi-finals – 2/3/4 May 2025
- 2025 Investec Champions Cup final – Saturday, May 24, Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Champions Cup Qualifications
Twenty-four clubs have qualified for the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup as follows:
- United Rugby Championship (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.
- TOP 14 (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.
- Gallagher Premiership Rugby (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.
- If not already qualified, the winner of the 2024 Investec Champions Cup will take the place of the eighth-ranked club in its league.
Investec Champions Cup Qualifiers
- TOP 14 – Stade Toulousain, Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Stade Français Paris, RC Toulon, Stade Rochelais, Racing 92, Castres Olympique, ASM Clermont Auvergne
- GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP – Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby, Sale Sharks, Saracens, Bristol Bears, Harlequins, Exeter Chiefs, Leicester Tigers
- UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP – Glasgow Warriors, Vodacom Bulls, Munster Rugby, Leinster Rugby, DHL Stormers, Ulster Rugby, Benetton Rugby, Hollywoodbets Sharks
When Does The 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup Begin? When Is The Champions Cup Final?
The Investec Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup begin Dec. 6, and the four-round pool-play action ends Jan. 19, 2025. The Round of 16 starts on April 4, while the quarterfinals are April 11-13. The semifinals are May 2-4.
The EPCR Championships weekend is in Cardiff, Wales at Principality Stadium. There are championship games on May 23 (EPCR Challenge Cup) and May 24 (Investec Champions Cup).
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