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Perpignan and Stade Francais Paris will kick-off a mouth-watering weekend of European semi-final action when they clash in an all-French contest at Stade Aime Giral with a place in the Dublin final next month the glittering prize. - 23/04/2013 15:49
Perpignan and Stade Francais Paris will kick-off a mouth-watering weekend of European semi-final action when they clash in an all-French contest at Stade Aime Giral with a place in the Dublin final next month the glittering prize.
Perpignan have a formidable record at the ‘Bull Ring’ where they have lost just once in their last 32 European encounters spanning almost a decade.
More than 14,000 fans will create a superb vibrant atmosphere and Perpignan outside half James Hook, who has also visited the ground as an opposing player, admits it gives the Catalans an edge.
“The crowd here are incredible and playing at home will be a big factor,” said the Wales star. “I came here with the Ospreys in 2009. It was a pretty special experience and one of the reasons I signed with Perpignan.
“It will be pretty daunting but it’s also something you look forward to as a visiting player.”
They have already inflicted defeat on the Parisians at Stade Aime Giral this season with a 32-16 Top14 victory in February but honours are even between the rivals with Stade winning their home tie.
The match also provides the last chance for Hook to convince Warren Gatland that he is worthy of a place on the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia.
While both sides are regular contenders at the knock-out stages of European competition, neither have clinched silverware.
Perpignan have reached four European semi-finals and were Heineken Cup finalists in 2003, while Stade Francais have reached seven and twice been runners up in the top tier competition.
Both sides will be desperate to go a step further this season and there will be the added incentive of automatic qualification for the 2013/14 Heineken Cup.
Stade have not competed in Europe’s premier club competition since 2009 and go into this Amlin Challenge Cup clash on the back of mixed form, in which they have won just three of their six matches since losing to Perpignan.
But they possess plenty within their armoury with 2009 Heineken Cup winner Paul Wawrick, France captain Pascal Pape and Italy skipper Sergio Parisse in their ranks.
Match facts
• Stade Francais have averaged 35 points per match in the tournament this season and 30 more would take them to the 1,500 barrier in this tournament overall.
• Perpignan have averaged a gain of 606 metres per match in the tournament this season, higher than any other club left in either ERC competition.
• Stade have lost two of their last three games against French opponents (Grenoble and Toulon) in this competition.
• Stade are making their third successive appearance in the Amlin Challenge Cup semi-finals, they reached the final in 2011 but lost at this stage last year.
• Adrien Planté and Francis Fainifo are joint-top try scorers in the Amlin Challenge Cup this season with six apiece (along with two others).
Seconda finale di Amlin Challenge Cup in tre anni per Parisse e compagni che espugnano 25-22 Perpignan grazie a due piazzati nei minuti finali di Jerome Porical
Jerome Porical kicked a dramatic late winner to send Stade Francais Paris to their second Amlin Challenge Cup Final in three years.
The Stade full back struck twice from distance in the final seven minutes to stun Perpignan with a 25-22 win at Stade Aime Giral.
James Hook’s 17 points looked like sending Perpignan to their first European final in 10 years.
But Porical held his nerve to level the scores with a giant kick from inside his own half and then strike a winner of both the post and crossbar to snatch victory.
It capped a stunning man of the match display by Porical, who also scored Stade’s first try before David Lyons followed, and sent Stade Francais into the May 17 final in Dublin.
It was a case of more heart-ache for Perpignan who were roared on by a raucous home crowd as they chased only their second European final appearance.
But Stade proved capable of winning away from home with their quarter-final win at Bath and silenced Stade Aime Giral after seven minutes with Porical’s penalty.
Perpignan struck back almost immediately with the game’s opening try.
Farid Sid kicked ahead and Perpignan poured forward to recover possession close to Stade’s try line before Lifeimi Mafi’s long pass found Guilhem Guirado out wide and the hooker was not to be denied from 10 metres out.
Hook missed the conversion but touched down moments later in exactly the same spot as Perpignan seized control.
Scrum-half Florian Cazenave and Sid combined before Hook switched the direction of the attack. Only good defence denied Adrien Plante but Hook scooped up and dived over in the corner.
Again the conversion was narrowly wide and Perpignan were left to hope they would not regret the missed points as Stade edged the exchanges up front for Porical to cut the lead to 13-9 by half-time.
Hook opened some daylight early in the second half after the video official ruled his penalty had dissected the posts, but the gap was slammed shut when Lyons stormed over moments later.
However it was the wonderful balance and speed of Porical that did the damage after evading three Perpignan defenders before finding the former Wallaby with a hopeful inside pass.
Porical’s conversion levelled the scores and he did so again on 52 minutes after Hook had closed in on 300 career points in Europe with his third penalty.
Both kickers missed their next chances as nerves grew and the scoring chances dried up amid the tension.
Hook nudged Perpignan ahead – again with the help of the video official after the touch judges ruled his lofty kick wide – on 68 minutes.
But Stade held both their nerve and the edge up front to hand Porical two half chances that he took in style.
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