Paris (AFP)

The French Stadium returned to the Top 14 with a precious victory against Pau (46-32), penultimate, and put behind him the record of the controversial departure of Gaël Fickou at Racing 92, Saturday during the 22nd day.

Despite the loss of the offensive bonus at the very end of the game, this success, six tries to four, will do the club of the capital good, beaten four times in its five previous matches.

He had not played for nearly a month and his defeat against Clermont (34-27).

Gonzalo Quesada's team no longer has their fate in hand for the final phase but continues to have a small hope of qualifying.

Still ninth in the standings, it comes down to four units from the right wagon.

This victory also instills confidence in the Parisian ranks before the Ile-de-France derby against Racing 92 in a week's time.

The center of the XV of France Gaël Fickou, whose departure from the French Stadium to the neighbor of Hauts-de-Seine has been debated this week, will not play this important meeting in both camps.

The match, initially scheduled for last weekend, has been postponed for reasons related to Covid-19.

Despite four weeks without competition, the Stade Français imposed its domination in front of the Pau Section, scoring three tries in half an hour.

The French international N.8 Sekou Macalou was decisive by concretizing the first and then as the penultimate passer on the second signed Sefanaia Naivalu.

South African scrum-half James Hall did the most spectacularly, slaloming through the Pau defense.

The Parisians then slackened a little, time for the Samoan center of Pau Tumua Manu to shine and be at the origin of the first two tries of his own (before registering the last of the game).

But Kylan Hamdaoui brought a fourth try to his team and the Pau had to manage a double numerical inferiority after the yellow cards received by Charly Malié and Maks Van Dyk.

The pillar Paul-Alo Emile and the center Alex Arraté took the opportunity to drive the point home.

But the Parisians failed to keep the offensive bonus point, conceding two tries in the "money time".

© 2021 AFP