Paris (AFP)

Contested at home, the Stade Français was heroic at the end of the match to get out of La Rochelle's trap (21-20) and climb to 11th place in the Top 14 on the 15th day.

Released, relieved by the test of Nicolas Sanchez, entered long after the end of the 80 minutes, after many combat and melee phases against Rochelais finally exhausted and at fault, the Stade Français is no longer last.

The Parisian club this time knew how to find the key to the Rochelais lock, unlike last season, when the Stade Rochelais came here (14-12) for the first time in its history. Result, Paris rises to 11th place (24 pts), and leaves the last chair in Agen (22 pts).

However, nothing was given in advance. Especially when, in the 71st minute, the Argentinian Facundo Bosch gave the advantage to La Rochelle (18-16) at the exit of a worn ball and resisting Paris defense well for the 3rd try of the Bagnards.

"Here, here, it's La Rochelle" we heard in a Jean Bouin stadium, who felt the freezing wind blow ... until the saving attempt of another Argentinian, the opener Sanchez.

At the start of the match, Paris was the first enterprising player, opening the scoring, already, by Sanchez on penalty (6th), then, at the end of a well-conducted scrum, registering the first try, after a nice open side movement between three-quarters, concluded by the center Alex Arrate (8th).

As anesthetized by their test, the Parisians then died a little, resting on their defense and giving way to the child of Paris Jules Plisson, who had played his entire career at the Stade Français before being pushed out last fall and bounce back in the Maritimes.

It was he, first, who reduced the score on penalty (15th) before being on the initiative of the first Rochelais try (21st, 13-8): by serving Kevin Gourdon to pierce the Parisian curtain then by propelling a Wiian Liebenberg jump pass to flatten around the corner.

In the second period, La Rochelle remained in contact, with a second try from hooker Pierre Bourgarit after a 30-meter race where he left several Parisians behind (52nd, 16-13), before going ahead.

But, after the final reversal, it was indeed the Parisians who celebrated it in the locker room. Relieved.

© 2020 AFP