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Parisse steers Stade into Champions Cup play-off final
By Iain Strachan
Stade Francais will face Northampton Saints or Connacht in the European Champions Cup play-off final after coming from behind to beat Cardiff Blues 46-21 in Paris on Friday.
Stade, who could only finish seventh in the Top 14 but won last week's Challenge Cup final against Gloucester at Murrayfield, opened the scoring through Morne Steyn's early penalty, but it was the Blues who led going into the half-time break.
Willis Halaholo started the move for the opening try by breaking out of defence, and from a subsequent line-out, Gareth Anscombe set up Macauley Cook to cross in the 20th minute, before Anscombe added the extras.
Just three minutes later, Stade halted Halaholo and Lloyd Williams just before the line, but could not prevent Nick Williams from barging over, followed by another Anscombe conversion.
The hosts returned fire thanks to captain Sergio Parisse, who attacked from space to create a try for Waisea Vuidravuwalu, Steyn converting the wing's score.
The captain, together with fellow back-rower Antoine Burban and left-wing Sekou Macalou were involved again as substitute prop Giorgi Melikidze crossed two minutes into the second half, Steyn converting to put Stade in front.
Meyer Bosman then put in Mathieu De Giovanni and that proved the trigger for the home team to run away with it, Macalou touching down twice in the space of five minutes late in the second half.
Cook did pull one back with his second of the night, but Laurent Panis and Clement Daguin made certain of the victory with tries in the last 10 minutes, influential skipper Parisse involved in the build-up to both.
Victoire du @SFParisRugby face aux @cardiff_blues au terme d'un match prolifique !
Saints hosts Connacht at Franklin's Gardens on Saturday, with a spot in the decider against Stade next Friday up for grabs. The winner of the final will claim the last remaining spot in next season's Champions Cup.
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Latest Comments
There are a number of commercial avenues that arise from having a draft. Draft day in itself is a large commercial event that draws huge revenues from broadcasters and sponsors.
The context you added is “rugby’s current interest levels” but I don’t see how interest levels wouldnt be stimulated by a draft if it was done correctly. We already have fairly robust player movement in Super Rugby - a draft is really just adding in some structure and showmanship to the whole thing.
Your suggestions for a draft make sense - I would set the pathways alongside the U20s programs (min age of 20) but I wouldnt cap it, I would also allow players to come from any pathway - club, university and provincial competitions.
Go to commentsI know JGP and Lowe never played for the All Blacks but they were both multi year super rugby players. At the time Lowe was closer to ABs but I’m sure JGP would’ve made it at some point.
Either way those examples are terrible. Born, grew up and went though a development system where they became professionals. The barrier to represent another nation should be higher. Maybe the 5 year rule stops it, let’s see.
With the stand down, wonder if you could make it tier 1 > tier 2 only for switching? I’m guessing that’s the whole intention rather then say Sotutu going to England or Hodgman going ABs > wallabies.
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