Amlin Cup Final: Stade Français 18-19 Harlequins

In the most important game of their season Harlequins snatched an unlikely victory and won the Amlin Challenge Cup, defeating Stade Francais by a single point 19 – 18.  

It was unlikely because, after a superb fifty metre drop goal from the French full back, Rodriguez, Stade Francais led by six points with only eight minutes of the match remaining. Harlequins had barely managed to take play out of their own half, so great was the pressure of their opponents’ attacks and Quins’ own errors. But then Harlequins mounted a concerted attack with their forwards driving into French territory and a break by Marler made good ground. His pass to Care allowed the scrum-half to make a further break and then place a clever grubber kick through the Stade  defence that Comacho  took and darted over for the try with only three minutes remaining.  Nick Evans’ kick from the touchline sailed confidently between the posts and Harlequins had regained the lead.

There remained a scrum following a Quins’ knock on.  Despite their obvious superiority in the set piece, referee George Clancey did not give the penalty they were seeking and his instruction to use the ball forced the French to try to run until a further knock on brought the final whistle. There followed some totally unacceptable behaviour from both the Stade coach, Michael Cheika, and the captain, Parisse, as both bitterly harangued the referee and officials while Quins and the superb travelling support celebrated a third famous victory over the Paris team.

Anyone expecting a repeat of the first half of the semi-final at Thomond would have been disappointed.  Both teams tried to play at pace but the defences prevented any domination by either side.  A successful kick from a penalty allowed Nick Evans to open the scoring after five minutes but Beauxsis equalised from a penalty a few minutes later.  There were some notable collisions and excellent incursions into opponents’ territory but neither side were able to convert chances into tries.  Good breaks by Johnston and Danny Care were both halted with penalties to the French at the breakdowns.

Two more penalties allowed Evans to extend the lead only for Beauxis to pull one back so that the interval score was 9 – 6, a slender but acceptable lead to Quins.  Both sides had managed good attacking positions with lineouts on the five metre line but both sides had been proficient in defence and cleared the danger.

The second half was a different story and almost a different match.  The French came out in attack mode and from the start created great pressure on Harlequins causing errors in handling and missed tackles as well as making huge territorial inroads.  A penalty in front of the psots allowed Beauxis to draw the scores level after only five minutes of the second half.  The French continued to apply massive pressure and a couple of minutes later a drop goal from Bastereaud, the most unlikely source of such score, gave the French the lead for the first time and another penalty allowed Beauxis to extend the lead to 9 - 15

The French continued to dominate although Evans had two penalty opportunities and even though he missed with one attempt his next sailed cleanly through the posts to narrow the gap to three points again.  Then came the Roderiguez drop goal and despair for the travelling Quins’support.

There followed the unbelievable magic of Camacho’s score and the nerveless execution of Evans’ conversion and the joy and celebration of victory.

Having been refused press access by the minions of ERC, your reporter was not present at the Press conference,  I am obliged to the Press Association reporter for the following passages.

Quins rugby director Conor O'Shea said: "We didn't play well. We've lost some pretty heartbreaking games this season, but my wife always said to me we would get some luck at the end of the year, and we did. We hung on in there and never gave up. Across the pitch, we didn't have the greatest of games, but we kept on playing and trying - that's the motto of the team.

"It might be Gonzalo's last game for the club, but if it is, what an incredible to way sign off. I thought he was magnificent throughout the game."

Stade struggled to contain their emotions at the end, with captain Sergio Parisse attempting to make his feelings known to Irish referee George Clancy. And the Parisians' head coach - former Leinster boss Michael Cheika - did not hold back in his post-match press conference.

"We are pretty devastated," he said. "We deserved a lot better, I think. Once again we came undone due to the shortcomings of, you know. I don't think I should say it because I will only get in trouble.

"We are very disappointed. We made some small mistakes which Harlequins were very good at taking advantage of, some snippets of the game when they got through us."

Stade were penalised at a late scrum as they tried to establish field position and rescue the game, but Cheika added: "That, unfortunately, was a joke (being penalised at the scrum). We pushed them off the ball. The areas where we dominated in the second half, the referee took our advantage away. It's a shame.”

"Sergio was a bit upset at the end. I went to take the player away from him (Clancy) to help him, and he carried on with fear. He didn't want to explain to me, he didn't want to do anything. It's big stakes. We deserved to win, and I hope it is not perceived as just sour grapes. I am trying to be as measured as I can - I thought we played very well.”

With due deference to Micheal Cheika’ whinge, Stade Francais got exactly what they deserved.

Harlequins Brown; Camacho, Lowe (Chisholm, 78), Turner-Hall, Monye; Evans, Care; Marler, Gray, Johnston, Kohn, Robson, Fa'asavalu (Skinner, 62), Robshaw (capt), Easter.

Stade Français Rodríguez; Arias, Bastareaud, Boussès, Camara; Beauxis, Dupuy; Roncero, Bonfils, Attoub, Palmer, Papé, Haskell, Burban (Leguizamón, 39), Parisse (capt).

Referee G Clancy (Ire) Attendance 12,236