Wind, a little winter drizzle, and a damp cold, weather-wise. Candles, forwards, hectic scrums and a few rare passes on the field. We didn't rush to come see this Stade Français-Perpignan in the stands of Jean-Bouin (10,577 spectators), and we won't blame those absent for having preferred to prepare the capon rather than having pushed as far as 'in the 16th arrondissement on Saturday afternoon. It wasn't a great match, if we must sum it up kindly, but Paris won it, giving itself the right to breathe a little in the Top 14.
After missing out on their entry into the Champions Cup with two defeats in as many matches, Laurent Labit's men had the merit of getting back on track as soon as they returned to the championship. Crucial in the race to maintain, in which the capital club finds itself plunged after a bad start to the season, especially against the Catalans who are also forced to look behind rather than ahead.
Stade Français launched its success in the first period, with two tries in six minutes from Joe Marchant (18th) and Charles Laloi (24th) and the help of Perpignan opener Tommaso Allan, catastrophic in the first 40 minutes. USAP's response, via a test too easily given to winger Tavite Veredamu (28th), quickly ran out of steam.
Toulouse and Bordeaux on the program
Pushed back three more points by the foot of Louis Carbonel (45th), USAP was weighed down with the yellow card of its pillar, Kieran Brookes (52nd). Before cracking on a Parisian counter-attack led at full speed by Léo Barré, Marchant and scrum half Brad Weber, author of the capital's players' third try (62nd).
The fourth, that of the offensive bonus, never came. But this victory suits the Parisians well, especially considering the schedule for the coming days in the Top 14.
After Christmas, Paris will travel to Toulouse on Sunday December 29 for a gala match at the Stadium against the reigning French and European champions, who will have found their stars, Antoine Dupont in the lead. Then, to kick off the year, the Parisians will host Bordeaux-Bègles on Saturday January 4. That is, to summarize, two matches against the two teams at the top of the championship. Yes, we definitely couldn't miss against Perpignan.
