THE CHAMPIONS CUP BOOTROOM
STADE FRANCAIS v MUNSTER
TEAM NEWS: Munster make a half-dozen changes following their much-needed league win at Ulster, Conor Murray, Keith Earls (right), Simon Zebo and Andrew Conway all resuming in the back line. Their two pack changes are Dave Foley and Robin Copeland, with injury keeping Donnacha Ryan sidelined. Stade change nine from their home win over Toulouse.
LAST THREE MEETINGS: Apr 04 – Munster 37 Stade 32 (QF). Jan 02 – Stade 14 Munster
16 (QF). Apr 01 – Stade 16 Munster 15 (SF).
VERDICT: Munster. WHY: Ian Keatley can vouch that there is nothing worse in Irish rugby than a Munster supporter scorned. He heard their cat-calls last month and while there was a riposte last Saturday in Belfast, today is the stage to silence doubters and get the province back to feeling good about itself in the tournament that really matters. It’s a sobering state of affairs that Munster, who reached the knockout stages 12 seasons on the bounce, are staring at a third pool stage elimination in six years and a second premature exit in successive campaigns. Anyone in Marseille in April 2014, watching them go toe-to-toe with repeat champions Toulon, would never have imagined them falling into the abyss so quickly, but today is a pool section cup final they can’t afford to lose, and they won’t. Just four of nine European matches have been won on Anthony Foley’s watch and he needs to rectify that run or the imminent announcement he has seemingly secured a one-year contract extension will annoy the same restless natives who barracked Keatley. The fear factor stalking them should breed confidence that a reaction will happen. So too should having Conor Murray back at No9 to tackle a French club whose league title defence has been shaky and whose team selection for this back fixture suggests they might not be going all out to win. ‘It’s a results-driven business,’ accepted Foley. ‘It’s not about dodging the blows, it’s about just trying to understand it and trying to build momentum. ‘We’re at a stage now where we need to go after our season and it’s important that we do that.’ The alternative doesn’t bear thinking about.