Stade Français in search of revival against the Lyon leader

Semi-finalist last season, Stade Français is expected to round the corner. And the first one is already showing up. From the 4th day... With only one victory - strange, a lone rider during a half before cold sweats to maintain a short advantage, 28-26, against Perpignan - and two defeats on the road (Clermont, Bordeaux), the Parisians are in 11th place, with 4 small units in the standings and the worst attack of the start of the season (only 54 points scored).

The meeting against Lyon, this Saturday at Jean-Bouin, therefore promises to be crucial. A hairpin bend not to be missed or you'll end up in the background... Without denying what's at stake, Paul Gabrillagues puts it into perspective. “Last year, we were in the same situation after three days, with a home victory and two away defeats. We launched our season during our fourth match, at home,” recalls the captain of the Pink Soldiers. An authoritarian success, 28 to 7, against the UBB.

“We are satisfied with our first halves in Clermont and Bordeaux. It was during the second halves where we sinned on commitment,” Skip the ad

The adversity, this Saturday, will be just as tough: a LOU with sharp teeth, current leader of the championship with three victories, two of which were improved. “We know it’s a big meeting and we want to be present,” continues Gabrillagues. The specifications are known: be more realistic in attack, not offer counter opportunities to the Lyonnais and, above all, be consistent for 80 minutes.

“We are satisfied with our first halves in Clermont and Bordeaux. It was during the second halves where we failed to engage, we ran out of balls, notes Perry Freshwater, the coach in charge of the scrum. We need to get our level of play back. But the guys worked hard. We can’t wait to see Jean-Bouin again…”

Lorre and Couilloud love playing with matches…

Louis Carbonel summarizes the threat. “Lyon has a lot of X factors. We prepared accordingly to try to lock all that in,” reveals the Parisian opener. If Fijian winger Jiuta Wainiqolo, top try scorer in the Top 14 last season (18) and already three goals this year, will not be there, Gabin Lorre or Baptiste Couilloud, to name a few, also love playing with matches...

There is no shortage of reasons for hope on the Parisian side. Last week, Stade Français sank after the break against UBB (40-10 final score) but with a heavily reshuffled team, deprived of most of its executives. The typical team is back. Rested. Ambitious. “It’s up to us to try to win to gain confidence and start a dynamic,” announces Carbonel. His manager, the Englishman Paul Gustard, wants to be confident. “In rugby, we sometimes have the impression of being light years away from the goal when in reality, we are very close…”