Munster Restore Pride With Bonus-Point Win In Thomond Park

Munster bounced back in fine style today with a 26-13 bonus-point win over Stade Francais which seriously dents the French side’s hopes of advancing from Pool 4 in the European Rugby Champions Cup.

The province avoided their worst ever European run of four successive defeats, with try-scoring captain and Ireland hopeful CJ Stander producing yet another man-of-the-match display.

Tries from Mike Sherry (18 minutes) and Keith Earls (39) had Munster leading 12-6 at half-time in greasy conditions. Morne Steyn kicked two penalties for Stade.

Earls’ brilliant solo effort, which had the watching Joe Schmidt smiling, was followed by Simon Zebo’s41st score for the province, drawing him level with Munster’s record try scorer Anthony Horgan.

Although Anthony Foley’s men survived Ronan O’Mahony’s yellow card for taking Hugo Bonneval out in the air, a converted try from South African flanker Jonathan Ross then brought Stade back into contention.

There was no denying fired-up Munster, though, as number 8 Stander fittingly secured the bonus point from a close-in ruck 13 minutes from time.