A happy hour for interim Munster boss Costello but sights now on Castres 

Munster saw off a sorry Stade Francais side, reduced to 13 men after 54 minutes when both the Parisians’ locks were sent off within four minutes of each other. They were already 14-0 up thanks to first-half tries from man of the match Thaakir Abrahams and Shane Daly, both converted by Jack Crowley, when Pierre-Henri Azogoh was red-carded on 48 minutes for swinging arm to Peter O’Mahony’s face as he tried to tackle the Munster back-rower.

Alex Kendellen scored soon after before Baptiste Pesenti was sent packing by referee Luke Pearce for a spear tackle on Craig Casey on 52 minutes, Tom Farrell securing the bonus point soon after.

Yet Munster lost momentum in the final quarter as Clemente Castets claimed Stade’s only try of the game, converted by Zack Henry, before Gavin Coombes added a fifth for the home side late on.

“We lost our way a bit for 15 minutes or so and it turned into a strange game but 60 minutes we were really happy with,” Costello said. “Our lineout was 100 per cent again and the scrum was really solid. When the game was quick, we looked really good and bar one moment, I thought our defence was outstanding. We left a few chances behind us close to the line but that gives us something to work on for the next six days.” 

Munster will travel to France for Friday night’s pool encounter in high spirits after their opening-round win in front of 17,241 supporters on a bitterly cold night in Limerick. Costello agreed they will also be travelling with plenty of momentum after a second consecutive competitive victory on his watch after he stepped up following the departure of head coach Graham Rowntree on October 29.

“We do, and we're taking two days off. It's important we're fresh. It's been a big focus of the group that we will train fast and make sure we feel fresh and prepared.

“The lads deserve to work really hard and we come in and have a short week. So just sharpens the focus.

“We will freshen up the squad. The medics have done such a good job and the S&C (strength and conditioning) staff that we have more bodies back on the pitch.

“The squad is healthier and more competitive, so we can make a few changes to bring that extra bit of hunger and bounce going to cast in a few days’ time.” end