The famous “encouraging defeat” can be read in two ways with hindsight. Or like a moment when a team accustomed to investigating disappointments appreciates a clearing before diving back. Or, conversely, when it is on an upward trajectory, heading for better days after hitting bottom. This Sunday, after its third loss (33-22) in as many games in two weeks against Racing 92, Stade Français has chosen to slip into the second category, hoping that the future will be lenient.
His arguments ? Despite 13 points to come back after the sad copy of the knockout round of the Champions Cup and a team amputated by several executives like Nayacalevu, Macalou or Hamdaoui, Paris rotted the lives of its neighbors, who had punished it (53-20 ) in Top 14 in this same Paris La Défense Arena a fortnight ago. A solid first period, with three tries and 22 points to switch with 9 units in advance, but spoiled by a red card, that of the winger Naivalu (35th) for a dangerous tackle, prohibitive to hope to overturn the table and spin in quarter.
“We were revengeful after these two defeats”
“This is not the first time that we find ourselves one less (hooker Tolu Latu had been expelled on the way out), it is expensive in the long run, slips the captain of the day, Tala Gray. We were vengeful after these two defeats, we tried to change a lot of things in our game.” “If the group weren’t healthy, they wouldn’t have been able to pull off such a performance, says manager Gonzalo Quesada. The state of mind is reassuring, after a week where we were just shaken by you (the media) but also people close to the club. »
A reference to the interview, Tuesday in L’Equipe, of the president and owner of the club, Hans-Peter Wild, very critical of the state of mind of his troops. The billionaire assures that the staff has promised him four victories in as many last Top 14 meetings. “We are going to play hard, with this objective”, launches Quesada. “It’s almost dead (for dams), but we want to grab this eighth place to be able to return to the Champions Cup”, continues Adrien Lapègue, author of a double. The challenge begins next Saturday with the reception of Pau.