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What you must remember
Gonzalo Quesada particularly feared this match, that of the “rocking” for a Stade Français which still did not know which foot to dance on. Eleventh at 9 points from the top 6 before receiving Toulon, his Parisians could not logically claim to look up and fight for the qualifying places. Nor to definitely start gritting their teeth, being wary of the agonizing emptiness at the bottom of the ranking. But stunning against the Var in the second half at Jean-Bouin (26-24), at the end of the 16th day, the Ile-de-France residents can always believe in the first option.
If the Parisian manager feared the bad swing, opposite, Franck Azema could, in this duel between ambitious clubs far from their ambitions, say the same – despite two games behind their evening opponent, it is true. He first had to be reassured by the best first period this season of the partners of Sergio Parisse, quickly effective in penalizing the lack of precision in contact or at the foot of the Parisians. As on this sharp test of captain Baptiste Serin (21st, 3-14). Presented as the “new Kolbe” before the real one arrived at the start of the season, Jiuta Wainiqolo had previously demonstrated that he had lost none of his fire hooks, at the conclusion after a volley inspired by Aymeric Luc (3 -7, 11th).
But in this almost quits or doubles match, the Ile-de-France residents showed value. And hung on. Moses Alo-Emile gave hope by validating the good work of Waisea Nayacalevu (28th, 10-14), as often one of the best in his team. Before Antoine Burban’s essay confirms the beautiful reaction of pride of metamorphosed Parisians in the second act (66th, 20-17). Full of regrets and returned empty-handed from Castres on the last day (15-9), Paris will not have to feed any this time.
If he was off the hook at half-time, Stade Français (10th) finally tipped on the right side and did not admit defeat in the qualifying race, coming back to 5 points from La Rochelle (6th). A week after having snatched a European round of 16, the end of the Parisian season is regaining all its interest. That of the Varois (13th) is likely to be a little more laborious, despite the defensive bonus point obtained in the last seconds thanks to Dorian Laborde (80th + 3, 26-24).
The player: the Kolbe symbol
His big premiere in the Top 14 in the Var jersey was particularly awaited, a few months after leaving Toulouse. Chelsin Kolbe, 28, finally showed off his new red and black colors in the Championship, after a lackluster appearance in the Challenge Cup against the Italians of Zebre in mid-December (28-14). For his first tenure, at fullback, the South African world champion was good… in the first period. Involved in the counter-attack of the visitors’ second try, the “Atomic Mouse” initially showed a lot of desire. Before dying in the last 40 minutes, like his team.
The tribute: Dominici in everyone’s mind
A year and two months after the disappearance of Christophe Dominici, the Stade Français and Toulon, the two clubs where the former tricolor international (67 selections) played during his career in the French elite, paid tribute to him before the match. . And inaugurated a trophy in his name, to reward the team scoring the most points on the total of their two confrontations of the season in the Championship. Thanks to their big victory in the first leg, 38 to 5, the Toulonnais obtained a small consolation with the first edition of this trophy which will be put into play each year. Record of the two meetings: 62-31.
