Following Stade Francais player Baptiste Pesenti’s use of what appeared to be a professional wrestling technique to tackle Craig Casey of Munster, seasoned rugby player Peter O’Mahony was not pleased. This veteran, who is likely in his final season with Munster Rugby, retaliated with several strikes against STF players as tensions flared following Pesenti’s red […]
Following Stade Francais player Baptiste Pesenti’s use of what appeared to be a professional wrestling technique to tackle Craig Casey of Munster, seasoned rugby player Peter O’Mahony was not pleased.
This veteran, who is likely in his final season with Munster Rugby, retaliated with several strikes against STF players as tensions flared following Pesenti’s red card.
However, Munster was already dominating in the Round 1 Investec Champions Cup match, defeating the Top 14 club from Paris with a score of 33-7 in Pool 3 action at Thomond Park in Limerick, Ireland on Dec. 7.
This marked Munster’s second match after they dismissed coach Graham Rowntree in late October, and they now hold a record of 2-0-0 after winning in URC action the prior weekend.
Munster’s precise finishing and strong defensive play left a Stade Français team gasping for breath following multiple red card incidents.
Munster Rugby Takes Control Early
Munster struck first in the 15th minute with Thaakir Abrahams scoring the initial try, which Jack Crowley converted. A yellow card awarded to Alex Nankivell in the 24th minute seemed to hinder Munster’s momentum, yet Shane Daly’s try just five minutes later, accompanied by another conversion from Crowley, boosted the lead to 14-0 by halftime.
Discipline Takes Its Toll on Stade Français
The hopes of Stade Français for a comeback were crushed early in the second half when Pierre-Henri Azagoh was sent off with a red card in the 48th minute. Munster seized the opportunity instantly, as Alex Kendellen added a try, converted by Crowley, putting the score at 21-0.
Stade Français received another red card—this one for Baptiste Pesenti in the 52nd minute—compounding their difficulties. Munster’s Tom Farrell further extended the lead with a try in the 54th minute, once again converted by Crowley, bringing the score to 28-0.
Stade Français finally registered on the scoreboard in the 58th minute, courtesy of a try by Clement Castets, converted by Zack Henry, but it was a case of too little, too late.
Munster capped off their performance with one final try in the last two minutes.
Upcoming Matches for Munster Rugby, SFP Rugby
Munster is set to head to France to face Castres in Round 2, while SFP will return home to compete against Saracens.
Scoring Summary: Munster Rugby vs. SFP
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’)
Highlights from Munster vs. SFP, Round 1 of the 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
Format of the Investec Champions Cup
Highlights of the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup:
- A multi-pool format comparable to that launched during the 2023-2024 season
- 24 top clubs – eight representatives from Gallagher Premiership, URC, and TOP 14 – arranged into four pools of six
- Each club faces different opponents, either home or away, in the pool stage, introducing competitive jeopardy
- The four highest-ranked teams from each pool advance to the Round of 16
- The Investec Champions Cup will unfold over eight weekends, featuring four rounds of pools and four knockout stages culminating in the final set for May 24, 2025, at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
Investec Champions Cup Weekend Schedule
- 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
- Final of the 2025 Investec Champions Cup – Saturday, May 24, Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Champions Cup Qualification Criteria
A total of 24 clubs have secured their place in the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup as follows:
- United Rugby Championship (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their overall standings.
- TOP 14 (8): The top eight clubs ranked by their final results.
- Gallagher Premiership Rugby (8): The eight top-ranked clubs according to their finishing positions.
- If not already qualified, the champion of the 2024 Investec Champions Cup will fill the eighth spot from its league.
Qualifiers for the Investec Champions Cup
- 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
Kickoff for the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup and Final Details
The Investec Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup commence on Dec. 6, with the four rounds of pool-play concluding on Jan. 19, 2025. The Round of 16 takes off on April 4, followed by the quarterfinals on April 11-13, and the semifinals on May 2-4.
The EPCR finals weekend will occur in Cardiff, Wales, at Principality Stadium, featuring championship matches on May 23 (EPCR Challenge Cup) and May 24 (Investec Champions Cup).
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