Paris (AFP)
For the first time in almost two years, the Stade Français has chained a third consecutive victory in Top 14, Saturday against Bordeaux-Bègles (26-16) in a late match of the 1st day at the Stade Jean-Bouin .
After two wins with bonuses against Toulouse (48-14) and La Rochelle (35-13), the first two of the Top 14, Stade Français has confirmed its revival against UBB, the best team of the unfinished 2019-2020 season due to pandemic.
Thanks to this third home victory, admittedly painful, the pink soldiers climb to 4th place with 23 points.
For the UBB (8th, 19 pts), which remained on three consecutive victories, it is a stopping blow.
With this same scenario, Paris could have been the first leader of the Top 14: this shock should indeed have opened the season but had been postponed for many cases of Covid-19 in the Parisian ranks ... which had largely irritated the side Bordeaux, coach Christophe Urios speaking in particular of "smoking".
"Of course, we do not forget, it is in the back of our minds, to say that we do not think about it would be a lie", admitted the Parisian 3rd line Loïc Godener just after the victory against La Rochelle.
- Joris Segonds well -
In the absence of Nicolas Sanchez, who is doing wonders with Argentina in the Rugby Championship, opener Joris Segonds has done the job again, but only in the game. Because despite a lot of missed penalties (six), he is involved on the two Parisian trials.
On the first, after a nice casserole on the right side, it was his jump pass that found the left, for a finish by Lester Etien on his wing (7-3, 9th).
And on the trial of deliverance at the end of the match, it was again he who unblocked the situation with a little kick over for Jonathan Danty, who found Alex Arrate for the victory (77th, 26- 16).
Under the Parisian setting sun, in a very closed goalscorer match, Stade Français was scared, leaving New Zealander Ben Lam to score his first try in the Top 14 (70th, 19-16) at full speed.
But preserved the essential: the Stade Français had not won three times in a row since the 2018-2019 New Year's Eve period.
A time of celebration to put into perspective: these three victories had been acquired against the last three of the championship, Agen, Grenoble and Perpignan - the latter two being currently in Pro D2.
© 2020 AFP