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Stade book final spot as Lions reject Ford fluffs lines
By Russell Greaves
George Ford's missed penalty proved costly as Stade Francais secured a dramatic 28-25 win over Bath to book a European Challenge Cup final spot.
Amid unsporting jeers at the Stade Jean Bouin in Paris, Ford – overlooked this week for Warren Gatland's British and Irish Lions squad – was wayward with a kick that would have levelled it up.
Todd Blackadder's side had staged a superb fightback to lead, having been 18-6 down with 17 minutes remaining, but Hugh Pyle's converted try and Jules Plisson's last-gasp drop goal turned the match back in the hosts' favour.
Stade, runners-up in 2011 and 2013, will now face Gloucester in next month's final at Murrayfield.
C'EST TERMINÉ !!! ON EST EN FINALE !!! / SFP 28 - 25 BATH #SFPvBATH #SFParis pic.twitter.com/ZWubJwZtdF
— Stade Français Paris (@SFParisRugby) April 23, 2017
The home side saw Plisson's early penalty quickly cancelled out by Ford, but Geoffrey Doumayrou touched down in the corner 12 minutes in.
Another Ford three-pointer kept the visitors within touching distance at the break, but one-time Bath target Will Genia offloaded for Plisson to score early in the second half.
With Plisson adding the extras, Bath faced a 12-point deficit and saw Ford spurn a chance to cut the gap with an off-target penalty just before the hour.
But Blackadder's side refused to give in and Semesa Rokoduguni drove over the line before Ford rediscovered his accuracy to set up a grandstand final 15 minutes.
Robbie Fruean's try levelled it up and, although Ford missed the resulting kick, Elliott Stooke put the finishing touches on a fine team move and his try was converted.
Still the drama was not over, as Stade second-rower Pyle powered through and Plisson held his nerve to tie the scores.
Plisson's drop goal transpired to be the winner, but that was only confirmed after Ford had fluffed his lines.
80' | Ford misses right, but wasn't helped whatsoever by the booing ringing around the Stade Jean Bouin
— Bath Rugby (@bathrugby) April 23, 2017
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No just because the personal is much better than last year. I've shown no antagonism of Crusader players, you must be confusing me with someone else.
I have critized Razor for picking players he knows occasionally?
I said I'm not surprised because of his style, he's more a grinder player like Cane, not going to show up on peoples radar until you see how bad the other choices are. This year players like Clarke have been on fire and just show a bit more.
Are you one of those posters continually taking it easy on Razor because he doesn't have his Crusaders stars available? Do you think the rugby world is going to up to him suddenly once Mo'unga returns? lol
Go to commentsJohn you have been beating this drum for a couple of years, if you get proven right get back to us.
The last recent and decent Aussie coach was Ewen McKenzie, he was undermined and forced out by a couple of slimy Aussie players who were given a free pass when they should have been disciplined.
So our history since McQueen is very checkered and it seems to make little difference whether we have an Aussie coach or a Kiwi coach. The players have been entitled for a long time and we had to hit bottom to get them back into reality and to stop thinking it is all about them.
Cheika was an OK coach but his 'go our and destroy the opposition' tactic worked for a while and then didn't.
Please give me a list of great Aussie coaches that I have missed.
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