Facing Stade Français Throughout The Years
12/05/2024 06:51 AM
April 15, 2000 | Thomond Park | Won 27-10
The first time Munster played Stade Français was 24 years ago in the Champions Cup quarter-final.
Four first-half penalties from Ronan O'Gara laid the platform for a strong Munster side to secure a semi-final place for the first time, as Dominic Crotty and
Anthony Horgan touched down. The final score 27-10.
Munster went on to beat Toulouse 31-25 in a thrilling semi-final in France before losing 9-8 to Northampton in the Twickenham decider.
April 21, 2001 | Stadium Lille Métropole | Lost 16-15
European Cup Semi-Final Stade Francais vs Munster 21/4/2001, John O’Neill’s disallowed try ©INPHO
The following season Munster faced the Parisian side again, this time in the Champions Cup semi-final.
It was here, however, that their European adventure ended with Stade Français earning a controversial 16-15 victory after a John O'Neill try was incorrectly disallowed.
January 26, 2002 | Stade Jean Bouin | Won 14-16
Quarter-Final Stade Francais vs Munster 26/1/2002
Anthony Horgan makes a break to score a try ©INPHO
Munster gained sweet revenge for the agonising Champions Cup semi-final defeat by Stade Français the previous season by claiming a nail-biting quarter-final win over the French side in Paris.
After wind advantage had helped Munster to a 16-3 interval lead, Munster battled bravely to hold on for a famous win against the star-studded French side.
Stade Français fought back to within two points of Munster, with seven minutes of normal time left, but the Munstermen refused to yield further.
They then went on to face Castres away in the semi-final where they won 17-25.
In the final, however, they were defeated by Leicester Tigers at the Principality in Wales, 15-9. In the dying embers of the game the infamous 'Hand of Back' denied Munster the chance to get over the tryline, despite a scrum in the opposition 5-metre line.
April 10, 2004 | Thomond Park | Won 37-32
Munster vs Stade Francais 10/4/2004, Anthony Foley, Rob Henderson and Paul O’Connell celebrates victory ©INPHO
After earning away quarter-final wins in 2002 and 2003, Munster stormed into a record fifth European Cup semi-final in a row thanks to a five-point victory at
Thomond Park.
Both Munster and Stade Français scored four tries, with fly-half Ronan O'Gara kicking 17 points in a polished performance.
Marcus Horan, Shaun Payne, Rob Henderson and Mike Mullins scored tries in that fixture, before an agonising 37-32 loss to Wasps at Lansdowne Road ended Munster's campaign.
January 9, 2016 | Stade Jean Bouin | Lost 27-7
Stade Francais Paris vs Munster
Munster’s CJ Stander runs out ©INPHO
This was a disappointing fixture for Munster, as they played Stade Français away in Paris.
Despite the opposition playing with 14 men after Stade Français winger Josaia Raisuqe was shown red after making contact with the eye area of CJ Stander, the province was unable to take advantage of the extra man.
Remaining scoreless until the 74th minute Conor Murray's try was scant consolation for a game that saw the men in red outmuscled by their French opposition.
January 16, 2016 | Thomond Park | Won 26-13
Munster vs Stade Francais, Keith Earls makes a break ©INPHO
Munster laid to rest the demons of the previous week's 27-7 defeat in Paris, crossing for four tries and securing a bonus point 26-13 victory in Round 5 of the European Champions Cup.
Mike Sherry and Keith Earls touched down before the interval and Simon Zebo added Munster's third before Stade brought themselves back into contention with a Jonathan Ross try. However, CJ Stander soon calmed the nerves of the Thomond faithful with the province's bonus point try on 68 minutes.
The post Facing Stade Français Throughout The Years appeared first on Munster Rugby.
