Munster know using squad is 'critical' in close opening Champions Cup rounds

Munster interim head coach Ian Costello is aware of how dangerous Stade Francais will be in transition at Thomond Park.

TEST: Munster face Stade Francais on Saturday in the opening round of the Champions Cup before travelling to France to play Castres six days later. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Thirty seasons in and the fundamentals of successfully negotiating a Champions Cup campaign remain exactly the same as when Munster first dipped their toes into European waters – you have to win your home games.

An inability to do that in the last two seasons’ opening games, drawing to competition debutants Bayonne 12 months ago and losing to Toulouse the year before that, is not lost on the current interim head coach Ian Costello as he opens his account with the visit of Stade Francais to Thomond Park on Saturday evening (5:30pm).