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Julien Delbouis in Challenge Cup action for Stade Francais Paris
Stade Francais Paris will bid to stretch their winning run against Italian opponents in European competition to 19 matches in Saturday’s Pool 4 Challenge Cup contest at Zebre Rugby Club.
This will be the first time the clubs have met in either the European or Challenge Cups.
Key facts
- Zebre have a 50 per cent success rate in home Challenge Cup matches.
- Stade have lost their last four away games in the competition, their worst such run.
- Zebre made the most passes (197) and offloads (16) of any team in Round 1 in their 59-21 loss at Bristol Bears.
Stade Francais Paris edged a finely-balanced match against Zebre Rugby Club in Pool 4 of the Challenge Cup, winning 12-13.
The crowd at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi saw Stade on the front foot from the off, with Gael Fickou crossing the line after just three minutes and Nicolas Sanchez adding the conversion.
⏱ FIN DE MATCH | 1️⃣2️⃣-1️⃣3️⃣
Les Stadistes s'imposent au bout d’un match tendu. Les Parisiens renouent enfin avec la victoire.#ZEBvSFP pic.twitter.com/LlrW0pzXUX
— Stade Français Paris (@SFParisRugby) November 23, 2019
It was the boot of Sanchez that ultimately proved decisive as he added two penalties in the space of six minutes towards the end of the first half to stretch Stade’s lead.
Zebre had put themselves within touching distance at half-time after a try from Charlie Walker, but a missed conversion from Carlo Canna meant they were always behind.
#ZEBvSFP Intervallo al Lanfranchi con lo @SFParisRugby che guida sul 13 a 5
Una meta per parte, con gli ospiti oltre il break al 36' grazie ai due piazzati di Nicolas Sanchez
Multicolor in partita grazie alla 1° marcatura con la franchigia federale di @charliejnwalker pic.twitter.com/80dmcwE10j
— Zebre Rugby Club 🦓 (@ZebreRugby) November 23, 2019
A late penalty try awarded to Zebre closed the gap further, but Stade clung on for the final seven minutes for the win, stretching their winning run against Italian opponents in European competition to 19 matches.
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