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European Challenge Cup: Stade Français shocked in Siberia
By Harry West
Krasny Yar sprung a huge surprise on the opening weekend of the European Challenge Cup season, claiming a bonus-point victory over defending champions Stade Français in Siberia.
No side has successfully retained this trophy, and Stade's quest to be the first got off to a disappointing start as they went down 34-29 on Saturday.
The clash started positively enough for Stade, who went ahead early on through Julien Arias' try down the right. Azamat Bitiev was the man to score Krasny Yar's first European points with a score from a line-out drive, but Stade were soon 12-5 ahead as Tony Ensor went over.
Seemingly stung into action, the hosts crossed the whitewash three times in a 13-minute spell, Victor Gresev stretching over before Sione Fukofuka and Andrei Mahu breached Stade's defences.
The visitors reduced the arrears to 24-17 at the break as Terry Bouhraoua raced over and their cause was aided early in the second period as Krasny Yar's Kirill Golosnitskiy saw yellow for a deliberate knock-on.
Stade capitalised on their numerical advantage, Arias going over for his second to level matters, but Gresev matched the former France international in doubling his tally with 13 minutes to play.
Lasha Malaguradze converted that score and then kicked a penalty, meaning Karim Qadiri's try was only good enough to secure a losing bonus point for Stade, while Krasny Yar were left to celebrate a famous victory.
Elsewehere in Pool 4, Edinburgh joined Krasny Yar on five points with a 37-14 win at London Irish.
There was a first-half hat-trick for hooker Joe Taufete'e in Worcester Warriors' 30-20 win over Brive, while the other match in Pool 5 saw Connacht thrash Oyonnax 43-15.
In Pool 1, Newcastle Falcons overcame the Dragons 32-27, both sides earning bonus points.
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Latest Comments
Speed of game and stoppages in play remain a problem SK. Set piece oriented teams generally want a lower ball in play time, and they have various strategies to try and get it - legal and illegal!
They want to maximize their power in short bursts, then recover for the next effort. Teams like Bristol are the opposite. They want high ball in play to keep the oppo moving, they want quicker resolution at set pieces, and if anyone is to kick the ball out, they want it to be the other team.
The way rugby is there will always be a place for set piece based teams, but progression in the game is associated far more with the Black Ferns/Bristol style.
The scrum is a crucible. We have still not solved the problem of scrums ending in FKs and penalties, sometimes with yellow cards attached. A penalty ought not to be the aim of a scrum, a dominant SP should lead to greater attacking opportunity as long as the offence is not dangerous but technical.
Go to commentsMcKenzie has NEVER won a championship at any level as a 10- not Test level, Super Rugby, NPC, Japan’s Top League, Secondary Schools.
Apparently it’s not his fault though, it’s everyone else’s.
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