Top 14 – Fact of the match Stade français – Bordeaux-Bègles: Joris Segonds, a crucial first try in the Top 14

He had been waiting for her for 1723 days. This Sunday, Joris Segonds scored his first try in the Top 14 following a well-felt pass five meters from the Gironde line. Although he scored in the Champions Cup, on the Leinster pitch, the Parisian fly-half had until now never experienced the joy of a try in the Elite. We even have to go back to August 24, 2018 to find traces of a Segonds achievement in France, under the Aurillac jersey, in Pro D2. Often criticized for his lack of risk-taking, the capital’s fly-half has this time taken matters into his own hands. In the first period, Joris Segonds notably hit a perfect overhand kick into the hands of Joe Marchant who then harvested a school three against one. Fortunately for the Parisians, Rory Kockott had the good idea to leave alone to go between the poles of the UBB.

But in the absence of Zack Henry, usually a more playful profile, Joris Segonds not only ensured in the running game but he also made his partners’ opportunities come true. Against the poles, the former Cantal player only had one failure and for a long time allowed his teammates to have a seven-point lead. Opposite, Maxime Lucu missed two kicks which could have changed the game at the end of the game.

An advance that almost cost dearly

Inspired in attack, Joris Segonds almost jeopardized the success of his partners. Three minutes from time, the Parisian flyhalf missed his clearance kick following a mischievous spoon from Maxime Lamothe. Direct consequence of this involuntary forward, a Parisian grabbed the ball, giving UBB three points and which could have given rise to a crazy scenario in the final moments. But fortunately for Segonds and its partners, Stade français was able to lock down the game to keep Bordeaux-Bègles from a direct qualification in the semi-final. If nothing is done yet, the Pink Soldiers are seven points ahead of their evening opponents…