Munster Rugby secured a 33 – 7 victory over Stade Francais at Thomond Park to get their Investec Champions Cup campaign off to the perfect start.
Stade Francais player ratings: Stade Français were outplayed and outclassed at Thomond Park, unable to match Munster’s intensity and cohesion.
Munster returned to winning ways in the United Rugby Championship a month on from Graham Rowntree’s departure with a 17-10 victory.
The Irish defeated Fiji 52-17 last weekend with a much changed XV following their 22-19 close shave with Argentina.
Tighthead Furlong missed the opening two rounds of his country’s November campaign because of a hamstring issue.
Robbie Henshaw has been named at inside centre at the expense of Bundee Aki. At the same time, uncapped duo Thomas Clarkson and Sam Prendergast join Ryan Baird and Craig Casey among the replacements.
Andy Farrell saw his men put in one of their worst performances under his tenure and that has made a win over Los Pumas pivotal
A perennial problem for Irish rugby is once again rearing its ugly head.
New Zealand exerted the 'Aviva squeeze' on an Irish team which looks to have lost its innovative lustre.
Not too long ago the All Blacks were struggling to close out Test matches late in the game. But now Scott Robertson’s side has been on the right end of two close contests in a row, boosting the team's confidence moving forward.