Dynamics and ranking of Stade Français
How far away the 2023-2024 season seems for Stade Français! Ultra-efficient and carried by a conquering pack, the Parisians finished second in the regular phase of the Top 14 before narrowly losing in the semi-finals against Bordeaux Bègles (20-22). But this season, the dynamic has reversed. Injuries, departures of executives and disappointing recruits… Stade Français disappoints and, after 14 days, ranks 13th and therefore virtually a barrier, just ahead of RC Vannes (with a seven-point lead). With seven defeats in as many trips and no points won, the capital club logically has the worst away record in the championship. It’s up to RCV to take advantage of it. But be careful! Over the last two weeks, Stade Français beat Northampton (45-35), the reigning English champion and semi-finalist last season in the Champions Cup, before losing most of its staff last weekend, in South Africa, against the Pretoria Bulls (7-48).
Best director of Stade Français
With 116 points scored since the start of the season, Louis Carbonel is the best scorer at Stade Français in the Top 14. He is close behind Maxime Lafage (124 pts) in the rankings but has a much lower success percentage than the opening half of the RCV (72% against 82% for Lafage). The opener who arrived from Montpellier in the off-season has not yet succeeded in filling the void left by the departure of Joris Segonds to Bayonne. He still played 13 of the first 14 days, including 12 as a starter. His replacement, Zach Henry, made do with two starts and five appearances in the Top 14. The Englishman was mainly used in the Champions Cup (three starts in four days).
Top try scorer at Stade Français
There are two of them who share this status as the best try scorer at Stade Français after 14 days. These are Peniasi Dakuwaqa and Joe Marchant who, with four tries scored, have the same total as Salesi Rayasi, the RCV's top scorer. Dakuwaqa achieved it in just seven games (six starts)*. We will have to be wary of this twirling Fijian winger capable of dazzling performances like during his try scored after an action started from his in-goal against Racing 92 last season. He also won the prize for the best try of 2023-2024 in Top 14 during Rugby Night. We will also have to watch Joe Marchant, an English international center who is also capable of playing on the wing. He forms a formidable pair of centers with South African Jérémy Ward, injured since the beginning of January but who could be back this weekend.
-*He also scored two tries in two Champions Cup matches
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