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Stade Français Paris captain Sergio Parisse has reached the Challenge Cup final on three occasions, winning the trophy once in 2017.
Challenge Cup champions two seasons ago, Stade Français Paris, will host Worcester Warriors in the French capital Saturday evening (20:00 BST) in a Pool 2 fixture televised live on FRTV.
- Stade Français Paris have won both of their previous two games against Worcester Warriors in the 2011/12 Challenge Cup pool stage
- Stade have won 23 of their 26 home games in the pool stage of the Challenge Cup, London Irish (twice) and Dragons are the only teams to win in this time.
- Worcester have lost their last 11 away games in the Challenge Cup, however, they have picked up losing bonus points in three of their last four such games.
- No team averaged more turnovers per games last season than Worcester Warriors, who made 8.3 per game (same as Cardiff Blues)
- Stade Français’ Mathieu De Giovanni (104) was the only player to make 100+ tackles in the Challenge Cup last season, he missed just two for a success rate of 98%.
Some tough conditions in last season's @ERChallengeCup…
🌪️ Hurricane in Galway
🌧️ Mud bath in Brive
❄️ Snow in OyonnaxWho's joining us for some Parisian sunshine on Saturday? 😎 pic.twitter.com/juwJ9qnrKl
— Worcester Warriors ⚔️ (@WorcsWarriors) October 11, 2018
Tom Howe scored twice for Worcester Warriors' win in Paris in the Challenge Cup.
Worcester Warriors pulled off a terrific win away to Stade Francais Paris, becoming just the third side to beat the French outfit in a European Rugby Challenge Cup pool game in Paris.
An imperious Jono Lance was excellent throughout and the Australian ensured Worcester took advantage of every chance that was presented to them by capturing a try-scoring bonus point.
Stade Francais got off to a dream start, with Jules Plisson slotting a penalty over to take the lead, but Warriors’ number 8, Matt Cox, crossed and Lance added the extras to go into the lead.
In response, full-back Kylan Hamdaoui finished a neat move for the Parisians and Plisson converted to put his side ahead, but that was for the last time.
Fly-half Lance kicked a penalty, which was immediately followed by a try by Tom Howe, who picked up the loose ball and put the English outfit 15-10 up with Lance adding the extra two points.
Fellow fly-half Plisson closed the deficit to just four points after slotting a penalty just before half-time.
🇫🇷 It's a first win in France for a decade – against a team who sit second in the Top 14!
— Worcester Warriors ⚔️ (@WorcsWarriors) October 13, 2018
The Warriors did not stop before the break, however, and their relentlessness resulted in a wonderful try finished again by Howe, although the hard work was done by young centre Ollie Lawrence, whose offload was impeccably delivered to Howe.
Stade Francais’ head coach, Heyneke Meyer, responded at half-time by introducing France international Gael Fickou, but it was Worcester who scored first in the second half.
Ted Hill used his strength to throw himself over the line and Lance added the extras once more to put Worcester 31-13 ahead.
Hooker Laurent Panis did manage to score for the TOP 14 side and South African Morne Steyn converted his effort, but they could not keep the English outfit down.
Worcester broke from inside their own half and Ted Hill’s excellent line and pass to Jamie Shillcock ensured their large lead continued.
A late converted try from Piet Van Zyl did not change the result and gave Worcester Warriors’ their first win in France for more than a decade.
🎥 "We've shown we've got real strength in depth."@tom_howe_14 reflects on the squad effort after tonight's huge win! pic.twitter.com/8tNhgMqCJX
— Worcester Warriors ⚔️ (@WorcsWarriors) October 13, 2018
Worcester host Ospreys next Saturday in Round 2 of the Challenge Cup, while Stade Francais travel to fellow Top 14 side, Pau.
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