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Stade Francais will have Springboks outside-half Morne Steyn available for their European Rugby Challenge Cup clash against Bucharest Wolves. - 15/01/2015 13:09
Stade Francais will have Springboks outside-half Morne Steyn available for their European Rugby Challenge Cup clash against Bucharest Wolves.
The South African points machine could be back to boost his side’s slim chances of qualifying for the last eight – with Newport Gwent Dragons and Newcastle Falcons leading the way in Pool Three.
The Parisians have ten points from their four matches so far after an away win in Romania and home defeat of the Falcons in round four.
But their is a glimmer of hope for the Wolves, who claimed a famous win at RC Toulon back in 2005. They have not won on French soil since, but will be buoyed by the fact that the Dragons claimed a 22-38 triumph at Stade Jean Bouin in round one of the tournament.
The Wolves picked up their only point in the tournament so far against the Top14’s joint-leaders. Australia star Digby Ioane had to dig his side out of a hole in the snowy Romanian capital when they eventually battled to a 13-9 win.
Match Facts
- Stade have won all five of their home games since the defeat to the Dragons and are joint-top of the Top14 after six wins from their last nine matches since they played the Wolves.
- Stade Francais have won all five games against Bucharest Wolves, however their meeting in this year’s tournament saw the tightest scoreline between the two, with the Parisians winning by just four points.
- Bucharest Wolves have lost their last five games in the competition, however their last win came away from home.
- Bucharest Wolves have conceded more clean breaks than any other side ahead of round five (62).
- Stade Francais have stolen more lineouts than any other side in the competition this season (12).
Le Stade français s'impose à domicile contre les Roumain de Bucarest (47-12)
Stade Francais Paris completed the Pool 3 double over Bucharest Wolves – with Wallaby wing wonder Digby Ioane scoring against the Romanian side in both legs.
Stade – twice tournament finalists in the last four seasons – were happy to escape with a 13-9 win on Romanian soil in Round 2 with Ioane scoring his first try in Europe competition to rescue the French giants.
And this time, even with home advantage at Stade Jean Boiun, they struggled in the first half against a determined Wolves side before cutting loose after the break.
Four penalty goals from the boot of the ever-reliable Florin Vlaicu kept them in the hunt and initially gave home fans plenty to sweat over.
Centre and captain Jérémy Sinzelle did give them something to cheer when he went over for an eighth minute try and No 8 Jonathan Ross got a second in the first quarter, Vincent Mallet converting both.
But they failed to trouble the scoreboard for the remainder of the half with Vlaicu the only one to keep it ticking over – although he did miss a chance to edge the Wolves ahead with anther chance just before the break.
But a yellow card for Florin Surugiu early in the second half was compounded with Ross storming over for his second and Stade’s third try, Mallet adding the extra points.
And the bonus point was in the bag after 56 minutes with wing Djibril Camara crossing for the fourth and Mallet on target with the conversion before Camara got his second to wrap matters up in style.
Ioane got among the try scorers against the Wolves yet again with No 5 as the Wolves ran out of steam and Stade coasted home with maximum points.
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