Stade Français – La Rochelle (22-17): winners of the Duel des Patients, the Parisians offer themselves a small bowl of air

A huge relief for the Stade Français. It was the match not to be lost between the two patients of the top 14 faced with a very agitated week between meetings and arrangements. The loser was necessarily going to dive into a deeper crisis. Even if he has, of course, not settled all his ailments, the Stade Français leaves this sad fate to La Rochelle (6th defeat in a row all competitions), by offering himself an lull with this success (22-17) built, in particular, thanks to a big start of the match.

Encouraged from the start by the many audiences of Jean-Bouin, still behind his team, the players of Paul Gustard powered in the 1st line after the decline taken by Laurent Labit, quickly hunt their doubts. Conquerors, enterprising, efficient on the touches and solid defensively, they push for the fault of a fully apathetic and unruly La Rochelle formation during most of the first period.

The defensive bonus for the Maritimes

The Stade Français, a red lantern since its defeat last Saturday in Toulon (24-6), leads largely to the break (19-3) thanks to the 100 % success of Zack Henry, author of four penalties (10th, 17th, 21st, 37th) and a transformation of the test of Samuel Ezeala (31st). Very angry, in view of the sad performance of his players, Vincent Merling, the president of the Maritimes, left the official gallery in the 20th minute to come and settle on the bench.

The Baroud of Honor of La Rochelle results in the test between the posts of Quentin Lespiaucq which is transformed (22-10, 72nd), then by a penalty test (22-17, 76th). To courage, Parisians manage to keep their advantage and to abandon, at least temporarily, last place. La Rochelle will “console” the point of the defensive bonus.