Advantage Munster in previous Stade battles

Colm Kinsella looks back on Munster’s four previous meetings with Saturday’s opponents Stade Francais.

2000 QUARTER-FINAL

Munster 27 Stade Francais 10

The return of talismanic hooker Keith Wood to Munster, was the inspiration behind the province’s run to a first Heineken Cup final

Backed by new arrivals, Aussie John Langford and New Zealand-born Mike Mullins, Munster secured their semi-final place with a 17-point win over Stade at Thomond Park.

Anthony Horgan and Dominuc Crotty scored tries, while Ronan O’Gara added five penalties and a coversion against the Parisiens.

MUNSTER: Dominic Crotty; John Kelly, Jason Holland, Mike Mullins, Anthony Horgan; Ronan O’Gara, Peter Stringer; Peter Clohessy, Keith Wood, John Hayes, Mick Galwey (capt), John Langford, Eddie Halvey, David Wallace, Anothony Foley. Replacements: Marcus Horan for Hayes (25), Alan Quinlan for Halvey (79).

2001 SEMI-FINAL

Stade Francais 16 Munster 15

Munster’s hopes of reaching a second successive Heineken Cup final were dashed in controversial circumstances by Stade Francais at Stade Nord in Lille.

Stade scored the only try of a game in the 33rd minute before nervously hanging on to their first half advantage. Ronan O’Gara kicked five penalties for Munster.

But it was a controversial decision which possibly cost Munster another cup final appearance.

They were denied a perfectly good try in the 52nd minute when they were trailing 16-9. Winger John O’Neill chased a kick by scrum-half Peter Stringer and appeared to touch down in the corner.

However, English referee Chris White ruled that O’Neill had crashed into the corner flag before touching down.

A television replay, however, proved differently. Stade, who led 16-6 at half-time, managed to hold on during a nervous final 10 minutes.

MUNSTER: Dominic Crotty; John O’Neill, Mike Mullins, Jason Holland, Anthony Horgan, Ronan O’Gara, Peter Stringer; Peter Clohessy, Frankie Sheehan, John Hayes; Mike Galwey, John Langford; Donncha O’Callaghan, David Wallace, Anthony Foley. Replacements used: Marcus Horan, Dion O’Cuinneagain,

2002 QUARTER-FINAL

Stade Francais 14 Munster 16

Wind-assisted Munster led 16-3 at half-time, but were desperately clinging to a two-point advantage in their quarter-final clash with Stade Francais at Stade Jean Bouin.

Anthony Horgan struck for Munster’s first half try, while Ronan O’Gara added two penalty goals, a drop goal and conversion to help the province reach their third successive semi-final.

MUNSTER: Dominc Crotty; John Kelly, Rob Henderson, Jason Holland, Anthony Horgan; Ronan O’Gara, Peter Stringer; Peter Clohessy, Frankie Sheahan, John Hayes; Mick Galwey (capt), Peter O’Connell; Jim Williams, Anthony Foley, David Wallace. Replacements: Marcus Horan, James Blaney, Mick O’Driscoll, Alan Quinlan, Mike Prendergast, Mike Mullins, Killian Keane.

2004 QUARTER-FINAL

Munster 37 Stade 32

Munster stormed into a record fifth Heineken Cup semi-final in a row with five-point victory over Stade Francais Paris at Thomond Park. Both sides scored four tries, with fly-half Ronan O’Gara kicking 17 points in a polished performance in front of a packed crowd.

MUNSTER: Christian Cullen; John Kelly, Mike Mullins, Rob Henderson, Shaun Payne; Ronan O’Gara, Peter Stringer; Marcus Horan, Frankie Sheahan, John Hayes, Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell, Jim Williams (capt), David Wallace, Anthony Foley Replacements: Jerry Flannery, Gordan McIlwham, David Pusey, Stephen Keogh, Eoin Reddan, Jason Holland, Anthony Horgan,