2025 Stade Rochelais vs Munster Rugby

Full-Time Report | Munster Rugby 25, Stade Rochelais 24

Munster has pulled off one of the great European away wins in its storied history, stunning two-time defending champion La Rochelle 25-24 in a Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16 thriller at Stade Marcel-Deflandre.

In a pulsating encounter drenched in drama, physicality and raw emotion, it was Jack Crowley’s nerveless second-half drop goal that ultimately separated the sides, handing Munster a signature win that will live long in the memory. 

Every player from 1 to 23 played their part in an all-time Munster performance, defying the odds and the hostile French crowd to book their place in the quarterfinals.

The game opened in typical La Rochelle fashion, with the team's forward power and early dominance yielding the first try through Levani Botia after Munster was reduced to 14 men following Andrew Smith’s yellow card. But Munster hit back swiftly, sparked by a slicing Thaakir Abrahams break that led to a Craig Casey try, converted by Crowley.

A penalty from Ihaia West saw the French side go into the break 10-7 ahead, but momentum began shifting decisively in Munster’s favor in the second half.

Gavin Coombes and Andrew Smith dotted down either side of the 50-minute mark, as Munster bravely turned down kicks at goal in favor of the corner, and the gamble paid off handsomely. A yellow card to Dillyn Leyds further compounded La Rochelle’s struggles, while the visitors’ halfback duo of Casey and Crowley began to exert their class.

However, the hosts were not done. 

A controversial penalty try – which also saw Alex Kendellen sin-binned – clawed them back into the contest at 22-17. But just when the pressure was at its peak, Munster's captain Tadhg Beirne and his forwards delivered a massive defensive stand, before Crowley calmly slotted a sensational drop goal to extend the lead to eight.

Late drama followed, as La Rochelle’s Antoine Hastoy produced a moment of magic— a touch-finder, a cross-field kick and a touchline conversion after Hoani Bosmorin’s 77th-minute try. 

The Stade Marcel-Deflandre faithful roared, sensing a famous comeback, but Munster held firm, even as boos rained down in the dying moments after Fineen Wycherley escaped punishment for a high tackle. Referee Andrea Piardi waved away the appeals, and the final whistle sparked wild celebrations from the traveling Red Army.

This was a monumental effort from Munster - a team with a proud European tradition - writing another unforgettable chapter against a club many thought unbeatable at home. Mike Prendergast’s side was disciplined, brave and utterly relentless.

For Ronan O’Gara, it was a painful loss to the club he once led to continental glory. For Munster, it was vindication — a reminder that the province remains a European force to be feared.

Final Score: Munster 25, La Rochelle 24

From all of us here on the live blog, thank you for following along on this incredible journey. What a game, what a team, what a day.

MUNSTER HAs DONE IT! FULL-TIME!

AN ALL-TIME MUNSTER PERFORMANCE! 

This has been another all time great day in Europe for the Irish province! What a day! 

Every player from 1-23 has been immense! That is huge! 

The boos are raining down from the La Rochelle fans who feel that Fineen Wycherley got away with a high tackle late on, but referee Piardi is having none of it! This is a signature win for this group of Munster players, and they are fully deserving of the win. MUN 25, SR 24!

Try! Hoani Bosmorin! Min 77! 

We are in for a grandstand finish here folks! 

Antoine Hastoy has been huge here since he came on! Nailing the touchfinder, before nailing a perfect cross-field kick! Of course, he then nailed the touchline conversion! MUN 25, SR 24

BIG TIME BEIRNE!

Munster's skipper does it again! Just minutes after Josh Wycherley wins a turnover! This is a huge defensive shift from the visitors! 

DROP GOAL! Jack Crowley!

In front of Munster's drop goal king, Jack Crowley lands a beauty of a drop goal to take Munster more than a score clear! 

When the heat dies down, O'Gara surely will appreciate what his successor has just done! MUN 25, SR 17

PENALTY TRY AND YELLOW CARD TO Alex Kendellen | Min 65

Depending on where your allegiances lie, you could view that incident in a multitude of ways. 

The match officials watched about 10 replays and had multiple ideas of what happened. In the end, there is a penalty try, and the game is back on. MUN 22, SR 17

The Power Game

La Rochelle has emptied its bench and is going back to the power game. 

So far, Munster is holding on, but is starting to leak penalties just 5 meters from the line. This is a big moment. 

If Munster can survive this, it will go a long way with less than 15 minutes. La Rochelle scores, and it is game on!

The Munster Halfbacks

Craig Casey and Jack Crowley are playing at a level we have not seen since Munster's run to the URC title. 

The duo are smashing every player who comes into their vicinity! 

With 20 minutes to play, the threat of La Rochelle looms large, but Munster is fighting for every inch here.

Craig Casey! 

Take a bow Craig Casey! The smallest man on the field disrupts La Rochelle's maul, and Munster now has a line-out to clear its lines!

A Huge Exit!

Antoine Hastoy drills a long-range kick, which Jack Crowley can't quite bring in, and La Rochelle sets up a strong maul! 

TRY! Andrew Smith | Min 51

Munster is flexing its muscles here! 

Munster turns a shot at goal and goes for the corner. Munster wins a textbook line-out and goes through a few quick phases, before Craig Casey finds Andrew Smith on the wing! 

The Munster flyer does the rest! Jack Crowley just misses the conversion! MUN 22, SR 10

Yellow Card! Dillyn Leyds!

Munster looked to be in again, but the La Rochelle winger gets a hand in there a stops the score! He is then given his marching orders!

TRY! Gavin Coombes! Min 48

Gavin 'LeBlock' Coombes, as Simon Zebo calls him on coms! That was magnificent from the No. 8! 

Munster is upping the gears here and frustrating the hosts! Jack Crowley drills the conversion! MUN 17, SR 10 

A MASSIVE MOMENT HERE!

La Rochelle ratchets up the pressure, but the Munster scramble defense is up to the challenge. These are the moments that could be key when it is all said and done.

Nash Is On Fire!

Calvin Nash has saved Munster there! 

La Rochelle launched some beautiful interplay and looked for all money to be in for the try! 

Cue Calvin Nash, who smashes Oscar Jegou into touch to save Munster temporarily. La Rochelle has a scrum, as Munster butchers the line-out. 

Penalty! Jack Crowley | Min 41!

The perfect start for Munster here! Calvin Nash chases perfectly from the kickoff and wins a turnover penalty immediately! 

Jack Crowley nails the shot at goal, and we are back on level terms early in the second half! SR 10 - MUN 10.

Second Half Underway!

Jack Crowley gets us underway here in the setting sunshine of La Rochelle. This promises to be a titanic 40 minutes ahead, so stay tuned!

Halftime Report

A tense, physical first half at Stade Marcel-Deflandre sees La Rochelle take a narrow 10-7 lead over Munster into the break in this Heineken Champions Cup clash.

The hosts struck first through Levani Botia, after winger Andrew Smith was shown a harsh yellow card for hands in the ruck in the 11th minute. With Munster down to 14, La Rochelle pounced, Botia powering over to put the home side 7-0 ahead.

Munster weathered that early storm and clawed its way back. The spark came via South African signing Thaakir Abrahams, whose slicing run tore open the La Rochelle defense. He offloaded to Craig Casey, who dotted down under the posts, with Jack Crowley converting to level the match.

Momentum began to swing Munster’s way, and despite Ihaia West seeing yellow for a high tackle on Sean O’Brien, La Rochelle stood firm, even with a man down. Munster dominated territory late in the half but couldn’t convert pressure into points.

With the clock ticking toward halftime, and parity still on the scoreboard, La Rochelle earned a penalty in front of the posts. West, back on the field, calmly slotted the kick to edge his side ahead 10-7 at the whistle.

It’s been a match full of ebb and flow, fierce collisions and fine margins. Both sides have shown flashes of brilliance in a half that has lived up to the pre-match hype. The second half promises to be a cracker.

Penalty La Rochelle! 

Ihaia West knocks over an easy three points to hand the home side a narrow 10-7 lead at halftime. This contest has lived up to everything fans hoped ahead of kickoff! SR 10 - MUN 7.

Ebbing And Flowing

This is what Champions Cup rugby is all about! 

Munster is holding the edge in open play, but La Rochelle are edging the scrum battle. With two minutes to go until halftime, we are still locked at 7-7.

A Shifting Tide

Munster really is putting the squeeze on the hosts here, but so far, La Rochelle has stood up to the pressure. 

How long they can hold Munster out remains to be seen, with Munster camped in the 22m.

TRY! Craig Casey | Min 23

That is why Munster signed Thaakir Abrahams! 

The South African winger shredded the La Rochelle defense, before finding scrum-half Craig Casey, who raced away to finish the score! Jack Crowley converts, and we are back on level terms! SR 7 - MUN 7.

Yellow Card! Ihaia West | Min 22

It is now La Rochelle's turn to be down a player, with their fly-half Ihaia West going high on Munster center Sean O'Brien. There was much deliberation between Tadhg Beirne and referee Andrea Piardi. 

Munster Back To 15 Players

Andrew Smith sprints back onto the pitch, and all things considered, Munster has done well to hold out La Rochelle, which hasn't been spectacular through the opening 20 minutes.

Try! Levani Botia And Yellow Card! Andrew Smith | Min 11

Munster has been handed a blow here, with winger Andrew Smith sent to the sin bin for hands in the ruck. 

La Rochelle immediately took advantage through Levani Botia! 

The yellow card felt harsh, given that Munster had no warning, and the incident was far from a try-scoring opportunity, but the referee laid down a marker earlier. SR 7 - MUN 0.

Backrow To The Fore

Stade Rochelais has raced out of the blocks here and has been denied only by the Munster backrow, which had all had key interventions. Completing their involvement is John Hodnett, who wins a turnover penalty, and Munster work its way down into the La Rochelle half.

NO TRY! Tawera Kerr-Barlow! 

The perfect start for the home side, which races into the lead within the first minute, was just chalked off! 

Playing a key role in the buildup was giant tighthead Uini Antonio, who pulls off the clever pass to release Teddy Thomas, who raced down the wing and released his scrumhalf. Unfortunately for the home side, Thomas put his foot in touch, and the try is ruled out. 

Kickoff

What an occasion! 

There is a sea of yellow and red, with two of the passionate fan bases showing out for their teams! 

Ihaia West gets us underway in this festival of rugby! The home side is playing from right to left in the first half.

Spiritual Leader Absent

Munster will be without center Alex Nankivell for the tie, after the New Zealander was handed a two-match ban following his red card against Connacht. 

Nankivell’s failed appeal means Andrew Smith, on loan from Connacht, starts on the left wing, with Sean O’Brien shifting to midfield. 

Thaakir Abrahams returns from a shoulder injury at fullback, while Peter O’Mahony is back in the back row after recovering from a knock. 

Jean Kleyn also steps into the starting XV alongside captain Tadhg Beirne at lock. 

Craig Casey and Jack Crowley continue at halfback, anchoring a Munster side showing four changes from last weekend. 

With Stade Marcel-Deflandre expected to be rocking, the stakes couldn’t be higher for both teams - each eyeing not just quarterfinal progression, but a springboard for the remainder of the season.

Munster Not Being Mislead

Despite La Rochelle’s mixed form this season, Munster coach Mike Prendergast warned that the two-time defending champions remain a dangerous proposition. 

“They’re at home, they’re probably feeling that pain,” he said, referencing the scrutiny O’Gara’s side have faced after 13 defeats in 24 outings. “We don’t want to be the team to give them that confidence.” 

O’Gara, meanwhile, seemed fully focused on the challenge ahead and played down any near-term return to coach his boyhood province. 

“I don’t think so, no,” he said when asked about a possible Munster switch. “I’m with one of the biggest clubs in Europe, and that excites me.” 

While La Rochelle is seeking to spark a turnaround, Munster is aiming to build on last weekend’s gritty win over Connacht and fuel hopes of a deep European run.