Stade Français-Toulouse (9-13): Paris falls at home against a diminished French champion

A final scratch from Paul Mallez, a final counterattack from Joshua Brennan: Toulouse did not need stars, and relied on its youngsters to create the feat of winning in Paris. Stade Français indeed fell at home (9-13), this Sunday at the end of the 17th day of the Top 14. Toulouse consolidates its leadership position when Paris leaves the top 6 (7th).

Stade Français had nevertheless attacked their match with the conviction of a team which knows that it has an unexpected chance to seize: to come up against the Toulouse leader at the best moment, when he is weakened. Without its stars Dupont and Ramos, without its soldiers Marchand, Jelonch or Cros, who preferred to crush Wales a few hours earlier, in Cardiff, with the Blues.

So much the worse for the peace of the Welsh, but so much the better for this Stade Français which promised a little hell to these diminished Toulouse residents. Result: the Pink Soldiers first monopolize the ball in a sold-out Jean-Bouin stadium, clasico obliges. But Tanga’s breakthroughs or Kerr-Barlow’s initiatives lead nowhere. The defenses take over. When Halaifonua recovers a ball for Paris, Willis responds for Toulouse.

Both teams have their chance near the lines, but without concluding. And it was Louis Carbonel, after 2 penalties, who gave the Parisians a meager advantage at the break (6-3). Valentin Delpy, Toulouse opener who arrived in the middle of the season from neighboring Colomiers (ProD2) to compensate for the absences of Ntamack, injured, and the internationals, having scored for Toulouse.

One try was enough for Toulouse

And it is this young Toulouse guard, returning from the locker room, who will allow the French champions to take the advantage. The Rouge et Noir push into the Parisian camp, and conclude with Efrain Elias, the young 22-year-old Argentine second line. A try transformed by Delpy with the help of the post (6-10, 50th).

The Toulouse community in Paris responded: “and the Tou-lou-sains! All healthy! », escape from the stands. Immediately, the “Allez Paris, Allez!” », go back to Jean-Bouin. The stars of the great era of classics are no longer on the pitch, but the atmosphere is still there. Carbonel reduces the gap, and Paris, although messy, still believes in it (9-10, 56th.)

This is where the match gets tense. After the start of a general brawl in the first period, it was a shoulder-to-head tackle from Dakuwaqa on Banos that made the Toulouse fans groan. Deserved yellow card for the Parisian winger. Toulouse took the opportunity to widen the gap a little (9-13, 65th).

And the Rouge et Noir, despite the absences, can still count on some classy internationals. The Scotsman Kinghorn, the Englishman Willis, the Frenchman Roumat bring a touch of Six Nations to this summit of the Top 14. Opposite, Léo Barré, who will join Marcoussis on Monday in the group of 42 players of the French XV who will prepare the next match against Italy, is having a mess. And Toulouse keeps its lead. Even in times of duplicates, the champion remains the champion.