In a messy meeting with a fairly low overall level, the internationals Paul Gabrillagues and Léo Barré were able to do well. On the Catalan side, prop Kieran Brookes was guilty of a card which was costly, when the opener Tommaso Allan never seemed to get the measure of this match. Here are the full notes.
The tops
After a difficult period, the Stade Français rear seems to be regaining confidence. On several occasions in this meeting, he showed himself to his advantage. In the first period, he was able to play a duel perfectly by fixing two defenders and following up with an off-load. In the second half, a nice kicking game in the corner of the Catalan field allowed his team to put Usap under pressure in order to recover an interesting touch in the opposing 22 meters. His defensive coverage has also been clean. Finally, on his team's third try by Brad Weber, his almost one-step pass to fix Duguivalu is a marvel. He also left a few feathers there, taking a huge “stamp” in the process.
As usual, the Parisian captain found himself at the forefront of the fight. Often one of the first in all ruck phases, he played another 80 minutes. Gabrillagues was invaluable in the small areas, where most of the meeting took place, particularly due to difficult weather conditions. On the sidelines, he was one of the most sought-after Parisians. He even took the liberty of stealing a ball with both hands from the Catalan line-up (34e). A match which ultimately resembles many of his performances.
The third Catalan was everywhere this Saturday on Jean-Bouin's lawn. On the run, like here at the end of the line (6th) when he takes advantage of a shift to accelerate and shift his second line Max Hicks into the lane, and an action which ends up on the Parisian goal line. In defense too, where he was particularly active and again in the scratch. Regularly used as the first attacker on throws after throw-ins, winning the majority of his duels (offensive and defensive), Lucas Velarte impressed with his activity. Which, however, was not enough for his team, who were too messy against the feverish Parisians, but who were at least able to be effective in getting back into the Top 14 rankings.
The Flops
His lack of success at the foot did not allow the Catalans to take the lead, after a positive start to the match. However, before this match, Tommaso Allan had the best ratio in the Top 14 (93.8%). On his first two penalty attempts (8th, 11th), on his ropes, he missed the target, failing to reward the good start of his team and especially the great domination of his pack of forwards, more especially in the scrum sector closed. Before, he had also completely missed a drop (6th). Then, his conduct of the Catalan game was random to say the least.
Later in the match (65th), while the score eluded his team (24-7), he also chose to let a ball go into touch, under pressure from the Parisian defense. Problem: it was a 50-22… Small slags which, added to each other, finally had their weight in the balance.
He is no stranger to the good performance of the Usap scrum, especially at the start of the match. Problem: his commitment ended up going beyond the limits: in the 52nd minute, he intervened with a shoulder directly into the head of the young Parisian winger Charles Laloi. There was force, speed, even violence and, at no time, did the English pillar give the impression of having organized himself to intervene further down. So, red card? Not even! Having seen his teammate Max Hicks also intervene a fraction of a second earlier on Laloi, Brookes benefited from a “mitigating circumstance” to only be shown a yellow card. Cheaply paid, no less crippling: during his absence, Stade français scored through Brad Weber and made an already definitive break (24-7). The Catalans' hopes ended there.
Notes from Paris
15. Léo Barré: 6.5/10
14. Peniasi Dakuwaqa : 5/10
13. Joe Marchant : 6,5/10
12. Jeremy Ward : 6/10
11. Charles Laloi : 5,5/10
10. Louis Carbonel :,5,5 /10
9. Brad Weber : 5,5/10
8. Juan Martin Scelzo : 5/10
7. Ryan Chapuis: 6/10
6. Tanginoa Halaifonua : 6/10
5. Juan Van der Mesht: 5.5/10
4. Paul Gabrillagues: 6.5/10
3. Paul Alo-Emile : 6/10
2. Giacomo Nicotera: 5/10
1. Moses Alo-Emile : 6/10
Notes from Perpignan
15. Louis Dupichot: 5/10
14. David Weredam : 6/10
13. Alivereti Duguivalu : 5/10
12. Jeronimo de la Fuente: 5.5/10
11. Ali Crossdale : 4/10
10. Tommaso Allan : 3/10
9. Tom Ecochard : 5/10
8. Joaquin Oviedo: 6/10
7. Noé Della Schiava: 4/10
6. Lucas Velarte: 6.5/10
5. Adrien Warion: 4/10
4. Max Hicks : 6/10
3. Kieran Brookes : 3,5/10
2. Ignacio Ruiz: 4/10
1. Giorgi Beria: 6/10
