European Champions Cup
14-man Stade Francais see off Munster
ESPN Staff
January 9, 2016
Report Match details
Date/Time: Jan 9, 2016, 17:45 local, 16:45 GMT
Venue: Stade Jean-Bouin, Paris
Stade Français 27 - 7 Munster
Attendance: 0  Half-time: 10 - 0
Tries: Bonneval, Macalou, Williams
Cons: Steyn 3
Pens: Steyn 2
Tries: Murray
Cons: R Scannell
Stade Francais Paris' Italian Number Eight Sergio Parisse (C) is tackled by Munster's Irish lock Dave Foley (L) and Munster's center from New Zealand Francis Saili (R) during the European Champions Cup rugby union match between Stade Francais and Munster Rugby, on January 9, 2016, at the Jean Bouin stadium in Paris.
Sergio Parisse tries to force his way forward against Munster
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Stade Francais had to play the second-half with just 14 men after Josaia Raisuqe was issued with a straight red card but it did not throw them off their stride as they beat Munster 27-7 at the Stade Jean-Bouin on Saturday.

Raisuqe was sent off by World Cup Final referee Nigel Owens on the stroke of half-time for making contact with Munster captain CJ Stander's eyes as the pair wrestled for the ball. Yet despite playing for 40 minutes with just 14 men, it was the hosts who ran out comfortable winners at Stade Jean Bouin.

And such was their dominance that only a try by Conor Murray five minutes from time prevented Munster suffering their first shut-out in 21 years of European rugby. Paul Williams, Sekou Macalou and Hugo Bonneval all crossed as Stade halved Leicester Tigers' lead at the top of Pool 4 to four pints.

Anthony Foley's side are now out of the Champions Cup baring a miracle turn of results after suffering three pool defeats in a row for the first time.

Munster were dealt a series of early blows with the loss of two players in the opening eight minutes and a third before half-time. BJ Botha, their tight-head prop, failed to recover after he was injured in a tackle in the opening minute. Full-back Andrew Conway then followed moments later after he came off worse from a collision with Stade's talismanic skipper Sergio Parisse.

It only got worse for Munster as Ian Keatley narrowly missed out on a try after Julien Arias was caught ball-watching, before missing the posts with his first penalty attempt. Francis Saili saved a certain try with a finger-tip tackle to deny Waisea Nayacalevu after the Stade centre benefited from Simon Zebo's ill-judged pass.

Moments later and Nayacalevu made the burst that produced the game's first try. Parisse provided support but Williams picked his angle between forwards Dave Kilcoyne and Dave Foley to score under the posts on 32 minutes. Morne Steyn converted and added a penalty for a 10-0 lead.

Munster then lost Tommy O'Donnell despite the flanker initially returning from a head injury assessment. But Stade were reduced to 14 men when Raisuqe was shown by television replays on the stadium's giant screens to put his hands in the face of Stander as they wrestled for the ball after Owen had blown his whistle.

The chorus of boos and whistles were deafening as Keatley kicked and missed his penalty and the noise only intensified as Welsh referee Owens walked off at half-time

Steyn added a second penalty before Munster saw Rory Scannell's try ruled out for a forward pass. Stade flanker Macalou then tore clear for a wonder try before full-back Bonneval beat Zebo to score a third. Zebo and Scannell combined for Murray's consolation try late on but the game had already been lost.

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