Taking advantage of Lyon’s indiscipline and clumsiness, Stade Français won on Jean-Bouin’s lawn (46-27) and remains more than ever in contention for a place in the final phase. Unlike the LOU.
Semi-finalist of the Top 14 in 2018 and 2019, Lyon will remain docked this season. While they had their fate in hand, with the obligation to bring at least one point of their trip to the lawn of the Stade Français Paris at the opening of the 25th day, the players of Pierre Mignoni did not know how to seize their chance . If the Rhodaniens scored the first try of the meeting from the 8th minute through Baptiste Couilloud, who took advantage of a Parisian awkwardness to conclude an action initiated by Jean-Marc Doussain and Dylan Cretin, they especially offered points to their opponents.
Joris Segonds, successful against the posts this Friday, took advantage of these gifts. At the quarter of an hour of play, it is indeed the Parisians who took the advantage in the score thanks to three kicks of their striker. In the process, the Lyonnais lost Izack Rodda to injury, replaced by Felix Lambey. But the bad news was not over for Pierre Mignoni’s players as Sefanaia Naivalu added strength shortly after the quarter of an hour of play.
The Australian international used his power to break through the Lyon defensive curtain and give the club de la Capitale an eleven point lead. On this action, Xavier Mignot had to leave on concussion protocol and give way to Colby Fainga’a. This allowed Josua Tuisova, established as a third center line to help out, to regain his place in the wing.
Having not yet said their last word in this meeting, the LOU players went on the attack and it ended up paying off. In the 23rd minute, out of maul, Pierre-Louis Barassi resisted three Parisian defenders but could not flatten. The ball went out very quickly for Baptiste Couilloud who served Dylan Cretin in a winger position to revive the Rhone club.
A success at the foot for Joris Segonds, after one of his rare failures in this meeting, then one for Jean-Marc Doussain allowed the two teams to find their locker room with a gap of six lengths. In the wake of the recovery, the Lyon striker missed the boat, unlike his vis-à-vis. But it was Telusa Veainu who launched the second act of Stade Français Paris. Eight minutes after the break, the Parisian winger followed a game at the foot of Jonathan Danty for Waisea who, after contact, served him on a plateau.
While the Lyon bench launched fresh blood, it was James Hall who gave more body to the Parisian domination. After narrowly missing the target, the South African scrum-half took advantage of a charge from Loïc Godener to find a mouse hole and flatten the third Parisian try. For his last under the Parisian colors at the Stade Jean-Bouin, Jonathan Danty wanted to do well and, shortly before the hour of play, to go there for his test …
A great outing for Danty, the downcast LOU
But an obstruction by Yoann Maestri on the same action prompted Romain Poite to refuse the attempt. It was then that the Lyonnais decided to play their game in order to snatch this vital point in the race for the Top 6. This materialized by two tests in the space of five minutes shortly after the hour. Out of maul, the ghost Jonathan Wisniewski was able to shift Jean-Marc Doussain who played on Charlie Ngatai. The latter was then able to send Toby Arnold.
The former All Black then went there on his own try. The three-quarter New Zealand center forced the Parisian defensive curtain out of a carried ball having been able to advance towards the in-goal. However, in the process, Jonathan Danty caused a foul that gave Joris Segonds three more points. And, by pushing too much in attack, Pierre Mignoni’s players exposed themselves. Following a good ball recovery from Jonathan Danty, Sefanaia Naivalu dropped Jonathan Wisniewki to flatten the fourth and final Parisian try.
It was then time to celebrate the exit of Jonathan Danty and ensure a victory of 19 points (46-27), the fifth in a row, which allows the Parisian club to temporarily take four points ahead of Toulon, which receives Bordeaux-Bègles this Saturday. For the LOU, the certainty is that the reception of Agen next weekend will be the last game of a very long season.
Friday May 28, 2021
Stade Français Paris – Lyon : 46-27
Saturday May 29, 2021
14h45 : Toulon – Bordeaux-Begles
17h00 : Montpellier – Bayonne
17h00 : La Rochelle – Pau
17h00 : Brive – Castres
17h00 : Agent – Racing 92
21h05: Toulouse – Clermont