French rugby Updates : Le café du Rugby.

vienne86

Try! That was fabulous from Stade - cheaky pass behind the back worked. And Steyn converts from close to touch - this is more like it from Stade.

Swan Curry

That was a fantastic kick from Dupuy

Buer

It's unlikely but I'd strongly consider recalling Dupuy for the RWC squad.

vienne86

Wow! Opportunistic try! Stade WIDE awake now. What a run for a flanker!

aimee1

toulon look very tired

Buer

Wow. What a turnaround and great pace from the flanker.

Whoever was in the full back position there for Toulon will have nightmares about that! Completely embarrassed by a flanker in a one on one.

vienne86

I can't actually find this on Sky 2. Tant pis! TV5 is fine with their usual exciatable commentary team.

Delighted with Stade being 20-13 ahead......feeling much more optimistic than I was in the first few minutes.

aimee1

Buer wrote: »

Wow. What a turnaround and great pace from the flanker.

Whoever was in the full back position there for Toulon will have nightmares about that! Completely embarrassed by a flanker in a one on one.

was mitchell who got sidestepped

vienne86

Are people watching this on Sky or TV5?

icdg

vienne86 wrote: »

I can't actually find this on Sky 2. Tant pis! TV5 is fine with their usual exciatable commentary team

Red button on Sky Digital only I'm afraid, cable customers have to make do with TV5.

vienne86

icdg wrote: »

Red button on Sky Digital only I'm afraid, cable customers have to make do with TV5.

Tks - have it on Sky now, but it sounds a bit bland after TV5!

OldRio

icdg wrote: »

Red button on Sky Digital only I'm afraid, cable customers have to make do with TV5.

and people who don't want to pay for Sky Sports, like myself:D

My God these commentators on TV5 Monde can really talk

vienne86

OldRio wrote: »

and people who don't want to pay for Sky Sports, like myself:D

My God these commentators on TV5 Monde can really talk

Well I pay for Sky Sports.......but have switched over the TV5 because of the commentary!

Buer

Heinke VDM is one of the most quietly effective players in Europe.

OldRio

Forward?

vienne86

OldRio wrote: »

Forward?

Very!

Buer

Is that 3 or 4 misses from Steyn now? Demoralising for his pack to see that even if they are tricky kicks. You'd back a kicker of his quality to have gotten one or two of those and push them out of touching distance.

vienne86

Thought that was going to be a card for the Stade player's high tackle. A card would be disastrous for either side at this stage.

thomond2006

Fernandez-Ligind on to save the day.

matthew8

Buer wrote: »

Is that 3 or 4 misses from Steyn now? Demoralising for his pack to see that even if they are tricky kicks. You'd back a kicker of his quality to have gotten one or two of those and push them out of touching distance.

Just tuned in but don't think you can complain about the last one, was out of range. Generally only kicks that far on the Highveld.

Stade 10 ahead, brilliant to see someone appearing to stop Toulon.

vienne86

vienne86 wrote: »

Thought that was going to be a card for the Stade player's high tackle. A card would be disastrous for either side at this stage.

Gets an important one there. 10 points ahead now!

Buer

Superb work from Stade pack in their own 22 and then on Toulon's 22 seconds later to force the penalty. Steyn doesn't miss this one and it's 10 points ahead with 9 to play.

Odd decision to take VDM off there. He had won 2 penalties in the last 10 minutes. Hayman had just been warned. Why remove him?

Buer

Don't understand that decision from the referee. Defender came through maul. Was on the carrier for a long time and only given as coming in from the side when he sacked it.

thomond2006

Ah Fillol should have just kicked it.

vienne86

Great defence from Stade......but nearly blew it with anoter fumble.

Buer

And certainly don't agree with going back to the other side of the field for knock on advantage when Toulon have gone through the phase, moved the ball out to an overlap and messed it up.

Buer

Toulon winning penalties and keeping the ball down in the SF 22 but every stop in play is costing them 30 seconds.

thomond2006

Cometh the hour, cometh Parisse.

OldRio

Blood and sand this is getting tight.
That must be it.

vienne86

Great lineout steal by Parisse.

Toulon panicking now.

Buer

That's game!

vienne86

Up the 'pull' with the ball now Stade!

thomond2006

Wow Morné, that was a dreadful chip.

vienne86

That's it. Stade can't be caught.

I LOVE it!

thomond2006

hahahaha no way

The 5 people who backed Stade -14 must be going mental right now.

Swan Curry

Haha, that's the icing on the cake!

OldRio

Well done SF.
Parrise was utter class.

vienne86

Try for Stade! Everyone thought it was over. Haha! 33-16!

Great win. Entertaining match!

iroced

Fantastic win for Stade Français tonight!

In the end, it's logical they beat RCT thrice this season (home, away and neutral :pac:).

Burban had a brilliant game, outside his interception try he made 2 crucial turnovers in a row 5 min to the end.

Toulon are not unbeatable!



--- edit ---

Oh and Bordeaux new stadium looks really great!

.ak

Ha, talk about a kick in the teeth at the end.

thomond2006

Well at least Toulon won't be complacent next year when POC arrives!

vienne86

Great to see Toulon can be beaten, and they were well beaten tonight. Stade were execellent. Allez les......roses!?!....sounds odd all right!

Buer

Great game but Toulon looked really, really tired. The age of their players caught up with them in the end, I think. 5 of the pack pretty much 34 or older (Smith is a couple of months short of his 34th). Really told tonight.

.ak

The amount of knock ons and forward passes was unusual. You'd swear they were playing in the pissings of rain up a hill. At times Stade just looked comfortable going through the motions, the only time they really had to push themselves was in the last 7 minutes when Toulon were knocking on the door, then some hero level stuff from Parisse and Burban got them out of trouble.

I'd like to see a Clermont v SF final. Could be interesting!

thomond2006

Buer wrote: »

Great game but Toulon looked really, really tired. The age of their players caught up with them in the end, I think. 5 of the pack pretty much 34 or older (Smith is a couple of months short of his 34th). Really told tonight.

4 of the starting pack are leaving.

Buer

thomond2006 wrote: »

4 of the starting pack are leaving.

Indeed and that will bring a little life into the pack but the cohesion that those lads have wasn't happened upon overnight.

At the moment they've only Manoa and POC arriving who are potential starters (and Manoa isn't in the class of Masoe or the Botha/Williams). It'll be interesting to see who else they sign. They've been far more interested in younger, French players so far this transfer market in relation to their pack.

sydneybound

OldRio wrote: »

Parrise was utter class.

I'm delighted Stade won but more happy that Parrise gets to play in a big final, what a legend.

What a stadium too, it'll be rocking for tomorrow's big game!

Wang King

https://vine.co/v/eM15W3VxMVa/embed/simple via @vineapp

Hup ow dat!

vienne86

sydneybound wrote: »

I'm delighted Stade won but more happy that Parrise gets to play in a big final, what a legend.

What a stadium too, it'll be rocking for tomorrow's big game!

Possible Clermont v Stade final sounds lovely! But I called last night's result wrong, so goodness knows what will happen today!

sydneybound

Gutted I'm missing today game, will be a cracker. Clermont are favourites but I've a sneaky feeling for Toulouse, great end of year finish for them plus they've Census back to sure up that leaky scrum.