Paris (AFP)
A week after its defeat on the wire in Pau, the French Stadium outclassed Brive (51-21) with the bonus Sunday in Paris, during the 13th day of Top 14, and remains in a good position with a view to a qualification to the finals.
Halfway through, the Parisian club is fourth in the standings.
The 2019-2020 season, which ended in last position during the shutdown in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic, is history.
This six-test three-to-three victory against Brive, who remained on three league wins, allows him to gain two places and overtake Lyon and Toulon, beaten Saturday respectively by Castres and Bordeaux-Bègles.
Argentine coach Gonzalo Quesada asked his players to deliver "80 minutes of high level", to avoid reliving the Pau scenario and "stay in the right car".
Last Sunday, the Stadistes lost 29-27 as victory stretched out their arms.
Without the center of the XV of France Gaël Fickou, left to rest, they led from start to finish, relying on a good offensive efficiency and the accuracy of the opener Joris Segonds in front of the poles.
The first two tries registered in less than 30 minutes by Tongan winger Telusa Veainu and rear Kylan Hamdaoui launched the Parisians well.
But the Brivists reacted by scoring two tries thanks to their power in the mauls.
They even came back within range (27-21) by registering a third, transformed, at the start of the second period, taking advantage of the temporary exclusion of Veainu.
The game really shifted to the Parisian side with the fourth try, signed by South African Gerbrandt Grobler and especially the red card inflicted, on the same action, on the third line Brivist So'otala Fa'aso'o for a high tackle on Segonds .
Brive, who had made ten changes from their victory against Lyon last weekend, then accused the blow and ended up imploding in defense.
The Parisians took the opportunity to register two more tries by Waisea and Mathieu de Giovanni and obtain the offensive bonus.
They held it until the end depriving the Brivists of a fourth try.
© 2021 AFP