2023-12-10 17:13:16
At the end of a tough and rather choppy match, Stade Français was beaten in Sale (28-5), for its entry into the Champions Cup on Sunday afternoon. Completely weaned from the ball, the Parisians turned their backs before logically breaking down in the second act, faced with the density of the leader of the English championship.
The Pink Soldiers spent a good part of the match cornered in their camp (60% occupancy and up to 75% in the second period), and it was necessary, in these conditions, to increase their efficiency to hope for anything. The plan was respected in the first period, when the only major action was concluded by Jeremy Ward (26th, 3-5). For his first captaincy, the center was sent into the goal by Kylan Hamdaoui (exceptionally aligned on the wing) after a breakthrough from Léo Barré.
This brilliant move kept the Parisians, very aggressive in defense, in the lead at the break (6-5). But by putting up with it, Laurent Labit’s players gave in, against a team with a game plan that was anything but revolutionary but very effective. After a succession of playing time upwind, the Sharks exploited two excesses on the close, scoring by Tom O’Flaherty (53rd, 14-5) and Johnny Hill (63rd, 21-5). Not always effective in their occupation at the foot in the absence of Rory Kockott, the Parisians experienced all the difficulties in the world to ensure their exits from the camp. The contrast with the English, led by George Ford, was striking.
A very generous menu to follow
Sam Dugdale’s last try (73rd, 28-5), after yet another phase of fixing the forwards, definitively dashed the hopes of a defensive bonus. The Parisians will console themselves – meagerly – by having deprived Sale of an offensive bonus which could count. Given its extremely generous menu – Leicester, Leinster and the Stormers will follow – Stade Français will have to raise its level to hope to survive in this Group D.
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