Great relief at the Stade Français!
After three defeats in a row, the Parisian team returned to success by overthrowing La Rochelle (25-20) on Sunday at home, during the 12th day of the Top 14, and moved away from the red zone.
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Led by fourteen points (3 tries to 0) after half an hour, the Parisians got out of a badly started situation against the defending vice-champions of France who lacked opportunism at the end of the match and have sinned by their ineffectiveness in front of the poles, a recurring problem.
This fifth victory, for seven defeats, allows the Pink Soldiers to climb to tenth place in the standings and are now five points ahead of the last two, Perpignan and Biarritz.
Stade Rochelais, for its part, remains fifth and therefore in the qualifying zone for the final phase but with the same number of units (29) as Clermont (6th) and Castres (7th).
To hope for better, the Yellow and Black will have to resolve their problems away from home.
They have only won one game so far away from home, as they have won five of the six games played at home.
Captain Pierre Bourgarit and his partners had yet taken the match by the right end by leading by fourteen points (20-6), after achievements from Bourdeau, Retière and Rhule.
But the Parisians, in difficulty in conquest and lack of possession, woke up suddenly taking advantage of an opponent's release and loss of ball.
Fijian center Waisea Nayacalevu rushed into the breach to score a brace in three minutes!
The opener Joris Segonds did the rest in front of the poles to allow his team to equalize, just before the break (20-20).
The Rochelle opening half and former Parisian Jules Plisson could bite his fingers for missing three kicks (1 penalty, 2 conversions, 2/6 at the end).
The French Stadium continued its momentum after returning from the locker room, taking advantage of an opposing numerical inferiority after the yellow card inflicted on Eneriko Buliruarua.
Winger Lester Etien, receiving a superb jump pass from Segonds, gave his team a third try and gave them the advantage (25-20).
La Rochelle had two opportunities to take control in the last five minutes.
But Bulirurua saw the ball slip between his legs very close to the in-goal.
Then he was denied a try for offside.
The Stade Français could push a big sigh of relief.