Paris is indeed a party.
At the moment, nothing seems to resist the Stade Français.
In a sparse Jean-Bouin stadium, a few hours before the change of year, the players of Gonzalo Quesada did what was necessary this Saturday afternoon to prepare for the festivities as well as possible by sweeping away Pau who were too green for them (37 -3).
The Pink Soldiers were warned and they followed the instructions to the letter.
Don't get carried away.
This is the watchword spoken to the Parisians all week after their demonstration against Racing 92 at Paris La Défense Arena (10-48), Saturday December 24, and the accession to the rank of dolphin of the Toulouse leader.
From one New Year's Eve to the next, it was a question of not slacking off to avoid flinching stupidly before tackling a year 2023, which, against all expectations, could turn out to be flamboyant.
Morgan Parra and his teammates had some difficulties before making their mark.
Helped by the yellow card inflicted on the Pau center Tumua Manu for a high tackle (6th), they nevertheless managed to put their game in place.
It was winger Sione Tui who took charge of sounding the charge by receiving an offering from his opener Joris Segonds (5-0, 14th) from the air.
But he lacked a little speed for Parisian companies to knock out the rather inconstant Béarnais.
You have to believe that captain Romain Briatte and his teammates reserved their recital for the second part of the performance.
A second half ride
The protrusions then fused.
The third line Habel-Kuffner escaped from a maul five meters from the opposing line to give oxygen to Stade Français (47th, 15-3).
substitute hooker Lucas Peyresblanques also concluded a maul on the sidelines (59th, 22-3) illustrating the power of Paris.
And Lester Etien, with an interception, put the offensive bonus away by scoring a fourth try just after the hour mark (63rd, 27-3).
The winger is imitated by center Jérémy Ward, author of the fifth try less than ten minutes later (72nd, 32-3), then by scrum half James Hall along the sideline.
Under his woolen cap, manager Gonzalo Quesada did not allow too much worry to transpire even though he had spent the week warning his players.
The Parisians are solid, confident and seem cut out for this Top 14 where no team is on fire.
The reception of Castres, Saturday January 7, will constitute, for them, a new opportunity to consolidate their second place and to continue to aim high.
