MUNSTER head coach Anthony Foley has named his side for Munster’s rescheduled Champions Cup Round 2 encounter against Stade Francais at the Stade Jean Bouin tomorrow – KO 4.45pm (lrish). In total, six changes are made from the side that defeated Ulster last weekend. Dave Foley, Keith Earls, Conor Murray and Andrew Conway have all overcome their respective knocks to take their place in the starting XV.
Following on from Wednesday’s session in Limerick, Tyler Bleyendaal reported some quad tightness and was unavailable for squad selection.
Munster: Andrew Conway; Keith Earls, Francis Saili, Rory Scannell, Simon Zebo; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Mike Sherry, BJ Botha; Dave Foley, Mark Chisholm; Robin Copeland, Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander – capt.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, John Ryan, Mario Sagario, Billy Holland, Jack O’Donoghue, Tomás O’Leary, Denis Hurley, Ronan O’Mahony.
Pool 4: Stade Francais Paris v Munster Rugby
Saturday, 9 January 2016
Kick-off: 17:45, Stade Jean Bouin
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wal)
Assistant Referee 1: Sean Brickell (Wal)
Assistant Referee 2: Jon Hardy (Wal)
TMO: Derek Bevan (Wal)
Citing Commissioner: Douglas Hunter (Sco)
TV: FR2 / Sky Sports / beIN Sports
Match facts
This will be the fifth match between Stade Francais and Munster in the European Cup, with Munster winning on three of the previous four occasions.
Saturday’s game will be the first time the two have played each other in the pool stage having clashed three times in the quarter-finals and once in the semis.
The most recent three games between the two were all settled by margins of five points or fewer, although the sides have not met since April 2004.
Stade have won 36 of 38 home games in the European Cup, and one of those defeats was against Munster in the 2002 quarter-final at Stade Jean Bouin.
The French side haven’t conceded 20+ points in any of their last 14 home games in the tournament.
Munster are on the verge of losing three consecutive pool games in successive seasons for the first time in their illustrious European history.
If Stade triumph on Saturday, it will be the second time that Munster have lost four consecutive away games in Europe’s top flight having lost their first seven on the road between 1995 and 1998.
Five of Stade’s tries this season have originated from kick returns, more than any other side.
Stade have averaged more tries (5.3), metres made (528) and clean breaks (13) than any other club this season.
The French are also one of just three sides yet to lose a scrum against the head this season.
