Stade Français snatched victory in its Jean-Bouin stadium against a tough team from Clermont (24-18), this Saturday for the first day of the Top 14. Two penalties from Joris Segonds allowed the Parisians to afford this first sluggish but oh so precious success.
Under the mild Parisian sun, the two teams delivered a real back-to-school match.
With approximations, not straight keys, forwards, missed kicks.
And young newcomers in each of the classes anxious to show that they are diligent students.
Like the new Parisian number 8, Giovanni Habel-Küffner, who for his first appearance at Jean-Bouin, sported pink hair that perfectly matched his new jersey.
The former Palois is also the one who allowed the Parisians to take a short break at the start of the second period, with a nice powerful try after a touch on the 22 m (15-6, 45th).
Until then, the first part of the match had rather given rise to a festival of small faults.
Between these two messy teams, the Stade Français was doing a little better at first.
With in particular his new scrum half, Morgan Parra, in charge, not disturbed by this first match against the Jaunards with whom he spent 13 seasons.
Former Parisian Loïc Godener makes a mistake on the Clermont side, and Joris Segonds opens the scoring on penalty.
Les Soldats Roses confirm after a very nice try by Naivalu.
Relaunch of their 22 m, breakthrough of Glover, relay of Arrate then of Parra, charge of Macalou, and, in the end, a basketball pass from captain Gabrillagues for the test of the Australian center (8-3, 28th).
The Clermontois burst
But it was after the second Parisian try after returning from the locker room that the Clermontois woke up.
The Parisian fray suffered, the faults multiplied, Baptiste Pesenti went out 10 minutes on a yellow card and the Auvergnats scored twice in a row (18-18, 61st).
"Here, here, it's ASM" resound in the yellow bend of the moderately packed Jean-Bouin stadium (11,500 spectators).
Everything has to be redone for Paris…
The end of the game is a bit crazy.
Habel-Küffner is very close to the double but is locked up on the line, and Segonds punishes the Clermont errors at the foot and allows Stade Français to regain the advantage (21-18, 72nd), then to get ASM out of the nails of the defensive bonus (24-18, 76th).
The Parisian public can exult.
Dots :
French Stadium.
Two tries (Naivalu 28th, Habel-Küffner 44th).
A transformation (Segonds 45e).
Four penalties (Segonds 3rd, 50th, 72nd, 76th).
A yellow card (Pesenti 54th).
Clermont.
Two tries (Ezeala 56th, Beheregaray 61st).
A transformation (Belleau 56th).
Two penalties (Belleau 19th, 36th).
A yellow card (Newsome 23rd)
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