Pretty in Pink

By Nell
January 10 2006

Its Stade Francais for the 7th time on Sunday. The results are now firmly in their favour as they have won 4 and lost only 2, although 1 was the most important - the Parc des Princes final.

They are a team that have played a part in one of the greatest days of our history- the Paris final – and one of the worst the dismal display by Tigers at Welford Road in 2004 which was to be Dean Richards final match in charge at Tigers.

The last encounter at Stade Charlety in October was won by Stade Francais 15-9. It was not a particularly attractive match to watch but both sides did show that they have very solid defences. Neither side were at their best but Stade probably had more excuses than tigers in that they were missing almost an entire first choice back division – Corleto, Dominici, Arias, Hernandez, Glas, Skrela and Pichot, plus Captain David Auradou , Sylvain Marconnet and Pablo Lemoine in the forwards.

They still have injury worries but the pressure has eased with only Glas, Arias, Pichot and Lemoine definitely out and Skrela and Messina possibly out.

In the front row I would expect them to start with Marconnet and DeVilliers with Roncero coming off the bench. Marconnet and DeVilliers have shown some signs of fatigue this season but both appeared to be in good form in the match against Narbonne after a 10 day Christmas break. Roncero is probably playing the best rugby of the three at the moment, he was one of 3 Stade players named in the Top 14 team of the season. However even though Marconnet often seems troubled by his left shoulder I would expect him to start as much for his ability to wind up the opposition as for his play. With Tigers current discipline problems someone who can upset them whilst looking to all intents a purposes as if butter would not melt in their mouth is an asset in opposition teams. All three props are exceptional players when fully fit, very strong in the tight but all capable of performing in open play. Even when not 100% they are a force to be reckoned with.

Recently young Dimitri Swarzewski, a new recruit in late September, has been preferred to former first choice hooker Matthieu Blin. His work in the tight and ability to break the gain line like a little tank are impressive, he also manages to score tries frequently. However, he has one drawback at the moment, his throwing has become very erratic. Stade lost 6 on their own throw against Narbonne on Friday and they are a team who used to be renowned for the strength of their lineout. It could just be that Blin, who is a very good player might be preferred because of the reliability of his throwing.

In the second row I would expect Captain David Auradou and Canadian Mike James to start. They are the usual first choice second row. Auradou is a natural leader and a great help in the line out as he is 6ft 7”. Mike James is a very solid, hardworking second row who never gives up. He usually seems to stay fairly injury free and has played 19 matches so far this season.

The Stade current first choice back row is very classy. At 7 Remy Martin never stops working, he tackles forever and is always there at the breakdown. When he carries the ball he is difficult to stop as he is very big and strong for a 7. He has been one of the outstanding players in the French international side this season, after being ignored by Laporte for several seasons. He is also in the Top 14 Team of the Year. Shawn Sowerby, although he has only once been capped by South Africa, is widely regarded as the best No 8 currently playing in France, he’s quick and agile and reads the game well. Young Argentinean born Italian international Sergio Parisse seems to be the first choice 6 at the moment. He has been a revelation since joining from Treviso this season. He can play everywhere in the second and back row in an accomplished fashion, but 6 is probably his natural berth. Like the other two in the back row he is very strong in defence but also has the ability to be a big threat in attack. He has played the second highest number of matches this season with 17.

With the absence of Pichot, Fillol will play scum half. He is one of few non internationals in the team but is still a very nippy, snippy little scum half who works well with Alain Penaud. He is one of two back up kickers and although his overall average is only 60% he can have very good games with the boot when he is really up for it. He kicked 11 from 11 at the Stade de France against Toulouse .

Alain Penaud was having an unhappy time in Pro 2 as Player/Coach at Lyons where his relationship with the Coach had broken down “If I say white he says black” Penaud is quoted as saying. He was rescued by Paris as they needed a “Medical Joker” to cover for the injured fly half David Skrela. Despite one or two slightly rusty performances early on he has blossomed at the ripe old age of 36 and is really getting the backs firing. His play has been so impressive that when Skrela came back he was unable to slide back into his normal No 10 shirt and was played at inside centre. Skrela is very important to Stade in that he is an 85% kicker normally and like Andy Goode can kick from anywhere on the pitch. However Skrela had a mare on Friday with only a 30% success rate and it appears that he is injured once again and may well be out for our game.

The centres are the most difficult to predict, because it is the area where they are most hit by injuries and also because they have several “utility backs” who get juggled around. Skrela will play inside centre if he is fit, but he may well not be. Glas and Liebenberg are out and Messina may well be. I would expect Messina to start if he is fit. The young player has really grabbed his chance and is improving all the time. He’s benefited from the injuries to the other centres giving him the chance to make regular starts. Mirco Beramasco is unlikely to be picked after a very poor performance against Narbonne. They also have young Thibault Lacroix who was so effective for Biarritz against us last season, but following a debilitating virus he has failed to regain his form and confidence so I would not expect him to be chosen. and so that leaves Hernandez and Sarramera who may end up in the centre as last men standing. Hernandez (who incidentally came to look at Tigers but chose Stade instead) is a very accomplish young back, capable of playing everywhere from 10-15. He is also a back up kicker to Skrela and like Fillol is 60%ish. Neither Hernandez or Fillol can take really long kicks so they are disadvantaged when Skrela is not on the field. Sarramera is a squad player but he is no mug, one of Stade’s strengths is that their back up players are almost as good a quality as their first choice ones.

Dominici and Corleto on the wing and full back are magical players. Domi is the third Stade player in the Top 14 Team of the Year. They are both very strong under the high ball and can explode from anywhere leaving defences totally wrongfooted. On the other wing I would expect young Argentinean Lucas Borges to play. He has fitted in very well to the team and has scored several tries this season. He was lucky not to be seriously injured after being pushed accidentally into a very deep concrete ditch at the edge of the pitch during the Argentina South Africa match this season. Luckily the South African player managed to grab his leg before he landed on his head from a great height and he came away unscathed.

Before the Christmas break they were playing some wonderful rugby. However in the Narbonne match despite scoring 6 tries they let Narbonne back in the second half and could easily have been turned over at home. Their usually water-tight defence leaked 3 tries. The lineout was very iffy losing 6 of their own. They were missing tackles and giving away penalties in bucketfulls. The normally very disciplined side managed to give away 20 penalties. Their handling was not good either. However they had had only 2 days together after the Christmas and New Year break and with 2 more days than us to prepare they may well be able to get themselves together once again. They have a habit of bouncing back after playing badly and Fabien Galthie their usually fairly calm trainer was furious with them.


Who’s going to win?

Areas of equality

I think that in the tight we are fairly equal .

Both teams have strong defences.

Stade pluses

As they have won here before they have the confidence to know they can do it. They travel better than most French teams having won away to both Biarritz and Clermont this season.

Their mauls are magnificent, they have really mastered the art

Their backs are much more able to create space than ours. They play much more creative rugby and all of them are threats in attack.

Stade have a huge hunger to win the European Cup. They have a group of players who have been with the club since the return to the top division (Auradou, Dominici, DeVilliers, Marconnet, Moni) and who are not getting any younger. They have won the Brennus several times and really want to win the European Cup before they end their careers.

Their discipline in much better than ours – they have played 3 more matches and have only 6 yellows and 1 red, as against our 16 yellows and 1 red plus the 2 reds our players received playing for their countries. We will need to be very disciplined against them, especially as they are likely to target our lack of discipline as a weakness. They give away the fewest penalties in the french league whereas I think were gave away the most in the English league last season.




Tigers pluses

Our lineout is better than theirs at the moment.

We have our impressive home record and they will have very little travelling support.

Our kicker is much better than their two back up ones and this could be very important.


I think it could be a close match. The winner will be the team that is up for it the most.

Roll on Sunday