2023-11-25 20:26:36
The breath of oxygen made the Parisians lose their minds. Beaten by Pau (30-6) in Béarn, Stade Français leaves its place as leader of the Top 14 to its winner of the day and suffers a second defeat in a row after the derby against Racing (9-13) on its home lawn. Jean-Bouin stadium eight days earlier. The effects of the week-long course in Loudenvielle, in the heart of the Pyrenees, were not felt as hoped.
However, the Parisians came down from the mountain with ants in their legs and a desire for the open sea. They got their hands on the ball a lot at the start of the match and they tried to vary the game. The intentions were laudable. The gestures, on the other hand, lacked rigor and a film noir scenario unfolded throughout the first period. After a strong try from Pau third row Sacha Zegueur (4th), the players of Laurent Labit and Karim Ghezal seemed to take possession of the game.
Clumsiness and bad choices
Their businesses, however, all failed in almost the same way, due to blunders or bad choices. A forward here, a chistera directly into touch there, a ball kept on the ground… This lack of precision paid dearly because the Béarnais wasted very few opportunities. At each foray into the Parisian camp, Sébastien Piqueronies’ players scored points, helped by their English striker Joe Simmonds in great form. The try of their second row Mickael Capelli at the level of a regroupment (31st) allowed them to break away and turn at the break with a comfortable advantage (20-6).
Again in the second half. During their great phase of domination just before the hour mark, the Parisians were unable to find the opening. Penaltouch wasted on a bad throw, footwork too imprecise to conclude an action, candle directly into touch… Errors flourished, keeping the Pink Soldiers far too far behind to hope for anything.
The closed scrum, the strong point of the Parisians, broken by the Béarnais eight minutes from the end, resonated like a final major failure leading to the third Pau try of captain Luke Whitelock (77th), the brother of Sam, vice-champion of the world with the All Blacks, about to join him in Béarn.
Dots
Pau: 3 tries from Zegueur (4th), Capelli (31st), L. Whitelock (77th), 3 conversions from Simmonds (4th, 31st, 77th), 3 penalties from Simmonds (21st, 40th, 53rd).
Stade Français: 1 penalty from Segonds (37th), 1 drop from Segonds (25th).
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