Paris (AFP)

Missed reunion.

The French Stadium, for its return to its land after a long time, fell against Bayonne, a team in shape (19-26), Friday during the third day also marked by the first defeat of Pau.

The Parisians played their first match at the Jean-Bouin stadium since February 15 and their success against La Rochelle (21-20).

In a fresh atmosphere, with only 1,000 spectators due to the health context, the “pink soldiers” failed to confirm the convincing success achieved in Castres (22-16) almost three weeks ago.

Bayonne, who surprised Clermont, finalist of the 2019 edition (21-19), in his last match, imposed his superiority by achieving a 13-0 after taking a penalty from the Argentine opener Nicolas Sanchez.

New Zealander Joseva Ravouvou, a specialist in rugby sevens who arrived in the Basque Country last summer, scored the first try of the match (11) while receiving a low kick from Yan Lestrade, previously author of 'a nice breakthrough in the Parisian defense.

The men of Gonzalo Quesada, architect of the 2015 coronation who found Jean-Bouin for the first time since May 2017, reacted well to the return of the locker room with a test of strength from their Tongan rookie Telusa Veainu (43).

But they still paid for their defensive mistakes by conceding another try, after a cavalcade of Gaëtan Germain.

The Bayonne rear, also skillful in front of the poles (21 points in total, top scorer), had recovered the ball in his own camp.

The Stadistes nevertheless continued to push but were unable to take full advantage of the temporary exclusion of Namibian forward Torsten van Jaarsveld in the second half.

They had not lost at home against Bayonne for 10 years and the defeat conceded on November 4, 2010 (20-24) at the Charléty stadium.

- Three red cards -

Astonishing so far, the Pau club has also suffered its first setback of the season, in Brive (19-13) after a match marked by three red cards, two on the Brivist side (Setareki Bituniyata 57, Mitch Lees 38 ) and one for the Section (Clovis le Bail 58).

Despite their numerical inferiority, the Brivists held onto their advantage obtained in the first period (16-13) thanks to a try from the Argentine winger Axel Muller Aranda and the success in front of the poles of the French back Thomas Laranjeira.

They thus sign their second success, after that obtained on the first day against Bayonne (42-23).

The Pau missed an opportunity to seize first place, while the Racing 92, leader, saw his trip to La Rochelle on Saturday, postponed after the detection on Thursday of nine cases of Covid-19 infection in the Ile-de-France workforce, members of the management included.

The coronavirus also caused the postponement of the Castres-Montpellier meeting, originally scheduled for Sunday, due to several positive tests in the Castres team, already deprived of the quarter-final of the European Challenge for the same reasons.

- Reaction expected in Clermont -

The 3rd day continues Saturday with Clermont, in search of redemption, which receives Agen, a poorly classified.

The Auvergne have struggled since the resumption, conceding two defeats in three matches.

After coming close to defeat at home against Stade Toulouse (33-30), yet reduced to thirteen, the Jaunards were surprised in Bayonne.

Then they fell during the quarter-finals of the European Cup, in their Michelin stadium against Racing 92 (27-36) who then qualified for the final.

Agen, in search of a first victory, will have to do without his center or Irish international opener Noel Reid.

But he will be able to count on his other heavy recruit, the young English winger Gabriel Ibitoye, who distinguished himself last season at the Michelin stadium, in a European Cup match with the Harlequins.

© 2020 AFP