Stoppage for Paris.
The Stade Français, which remained on 4 successes in a row in the Top 14 and 8 victories against USAP, lost at the Aimé-Giral stadium against the Catalans, this Saturday for the 16th day of the championship.
After a big air hole in the middle of the match, Stade Français gave in to the bottom team (31-24).
A tense, intense, messy match at times.
Tight often, far from 12 places and 28 points difference in the standings at the start of this match.
And it is rather the Stade Français who play like a bottom team, chaining a few errors and getting rid of the ball too quickly as if the Parisians were afraid to play.
Gonzalo Quesada's players are sanctioned from the start by a try from McIntyre who puts a suitcase in the Parisian defense (7-3, 10th).
Behind, the Pink Soldiers lack ammunition to return.
The Parisian hooker Ivaldi misses a throw, the opener Segonds balances too long candles.
And the beautiful raises of the wingers Tui or Etien or the breakthrough of Arrate end up in faults in the regroupings… The Stade Français fortunately recovers some ammunition in touch.
And takes the advantage after a good try on a recovery ball concluded at the end of the line by his South African joker Jeremy Ward (10-14, 36th).
21-0 in fifteen minutes
We think that the 2nd of the Top 14 will then quietly take the measure of the red lantern.
Quite the reverse is happening.
The Stade Français cracks, multiplies the faults, Ryan Chapuis takes a yellow card and Paris cashes a try just before half-time and another just after.
USAP returned the match and drove the point home after a new try and a new temporary exclusion from Paris (31-14, 55th).
Paris, the best defense in the Top 14, has just taken a 21-0 in fifteen minutes against the worst attack in the Top 14… Inexplicable.
Seeing a first victory in ten years against the Parisian enemy, the Aimé-Giral stadium roars with pleasure, whistles copiously at the Stade Français when Morgan Parra, with a marvelous pass at the foot, offers the try of hope to Lester Stephen.
The end of the game is a bit crazy.
Hirigoyen is unfairly denied a try after an imaginary touchdown from Tui.
Behind, USAP find themselves at 14 after Tilsley crushes Parra's arm to the ground.
Red card for the Catalan.
Stade Français scores behind after another assist from its international scrum half, for Tui.
But the Parisian reaction was too late.
A game to forget.
“We did not become zero all of a sudden, relativizes the Parisian captain Romain Briatte.
But they are fighting to maintain it, they wanted more than us… We will have to remobilize for next weekend”.
Stade Français will receive Bordeaux on Sunday at Jean-Bouin.
Dots
Perpignan - French Stadium 31-24
Half time: 17-14.
Perpignan.
4 tries (McIntyre 10th, Tilsley 40th+1, Faasalele 46th, Mamea Lemalu 54th).
4 transformations (McIntyre 11th, 40th + 2, 46th, 55th).
1 penalty (McIntyre 24th).
1 red card (Tilsley 68th).
French Stadium.
3 tries (Ward 36th, Etien 59th, Tui 73rd).
2 penalties (Segonds 5th, 18th).
1 drop (Segonds 32nd).
2 yellow cards (Chapuis 40th, Hirigoyen 53rd).