Latest
Overview
Season so far
Tournament record
Dopo Stade e Brive e si qualifica anche La Rochelle ma gli occhi sono tutti puntati su Londra e Montpellier. - 21/01/2011 17:27
It remains one of the big mysteries in the history of ERC rugby why Stade haven’t won a European title.
They reached the Heineken Cup finals in 2001 and 2005 and need a strong run in this season’s Amlin Challenge Cup to keep alive any realistic hope of playing Heineken Cup rugby next season.
Their form in the Top 14 hasn’t been great this season and they lie 16 points adrift of third place Montpellier in 10th. It hasn’t proved the easiest of transitions for head coach Michael Cheika, who joined from Leinster last summer.
Montpellier warmed-up for their trip to Paris by beating Stade 29-23 at home on 27 March, although they came unstuck at Stade Charlety in October when they were well beaten, 30-13.
There will be no Francois Trinh-Duc to direct operations for the visitors and skipper Fulgence Ouedraogo, while the homje side will be led by Italian skipper Sergio Parisse and will have star names Pascal Pape, Tom Palmer, Rodrigo Roncero and James Haskell alongside him in a mighty pack.
Le Stade Français Paris vient de s'assurer une place en demi-finale de l'Amlin Challenge Cup après une victoire palpitante 32 à 28 face à Montpellier vendredi soir au Stade Charléty. - 08/04/2011 22:04
Stade Francais secured a semi-final place in the Amlin Challenge Cup after a pulsating 32-28 win over fellow French outfit Montpellier at the Stade Charlety on Friday night.
The Parisian giants move on to face Top 14 Champions Clermont Auvergne in the last four but this particular victory was far from straightforward.
Montpellier, who sit 16 points and seven places above their high-profile hosts in their domestic championship, raced into a 16-0 lead inside 21 minutes courtesy of a close-range try from Giorgi Chkhaidze and three penalties from inspirational scrum-half Benoit Paillaugue.
Openside flanker Chkhaidze wriggled over after backs and forwards combined brilliantly to leave Stade’s defence outnumbered and overpowered as Montpellier silenced a previously noisy home crowd.
That substantial advantage looked to set to be extended even further before a cruel twist of fate finally gave Stade a foothold in the game.
A delightful break from Paillaugue was followed a perfectly timed back of the hand pass from No8 Marc Giraud to fly-half Raphael Lagarde but it was Stade who were celebrating just moments later. When the move ended abruptly, Scotland full back Hugo Southwell picked up possession, dummied one defender and stepped inside another on his way to a 80-metre sprint to the line.
Julien Dupy addded the simple extras before Stade grabbed a second try in three minutes with another clinical finish. Good support work from Pierre Rabadan saw the blindside dive over 15 metres to the right of the posts following impressive work from England Sevens star Ollie Phillips.
Despite those two lightening quick scores, Montpellier led 19-12 at the break but Stade were the better side for large chunks of the second period.
With Paillaugue off injured, Lagarde extended the visitors’ lead to 10 points but a penalty try and a fourth score from replacement Antoine Burban handed Stade a 29-22 advantage on the hour mark.
Montpellier hit back with two more well-taken penalties from Lagarde to reduce the gap to a single point and ensure a nervy finish in the French capital.
But a Lionel Beauxis penalty ensured Montpellier would need a try to leave with a win that had looked so likely early on and Stade’s defence held firm despite intense pressure in the final five minutes.
LIVE - TEST - Commentary