Match Report: Stade Francais 27 – 25 Exeter Chiefs

Stade Francais came from behind to execute a narrow victory over Exeter Chiefs in Paris in round three of the EPCR Challenge Cup on Saturday.

An impressive first half from Chiefs put them 0-17 up on the French hosts. However, the men in pink emerged revitalised after the break and turned the tide of the game in their favour.

Winger Paul Brown-Bampoe marked his return to the pitch for the first time in nearly three months with the first try of the afternoon. Chiefs were on the backfoot, defending in their own 22, when an overthrown Stade ball was scooped up by Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.

Carrying out of his own half, a quick feed from Charlie Chapman to Dafydd Jenkins enabled the Welshman to lob a spiral out to the wing for Brown-Bampoe. It was a familiar site to see him storming down the touchline against a French side to ground the ball in the corner before Henry Slade slotted the conversion.

Just after the half hour mark, dominance from the Chiefs pack at the scrum produced a penalty within range of the posts. Slade calmly knocked it over, taking Chiefs into a double-digit lead.

Despite the clock being in the red, Chiefs’ work in the first half wasn’t done until Scott Sio forced himself over for a try. Patience and execution of the gritty work stereotypical of an Exeter pack saw them inch their way closer to the line, forcing Stade back with each carry.

Sio took the final pick to secure five points which Slade quickly made seven.

Half-time: Stade Francais 0 – 17 Chiefs

It looked as though Chiefs were starting as they meant to go on at the outset of the second half. Making quick work of advancing into the Stade 22, they peeled off a strong driving maul to take the ball to the phases. Again, it was Sio who took the important carry and was applauded as the try-scorer.

Slade’s conversion attempt unfortunately pulled wide of the uprights.

It took 51 minutes, but Stade had their first points on the board when replacement tighthead Giorgi Melikidze muscled his way over at the base of a rubble of bodies. From there, a flood of scores followed for the home side.

Thibaut Motassi leapt over a ruck to score before a penalty try was awarded Stade’s way. That all came in quick succession of two yellow cards for Chiefs for cynical play on the line. The bonus point try was scored in the corner by Charles Laloi to put the Frenchmen ahead at 68 minutes.

Chiefs looked to have potentially robbed the victory with a Slade drop goal minutes later, but ill-discipline produced a penalty in the Exeter 22 within kicking distance for Laloi.

Despite fighting their way downfield, in the 84th minute, as the potential for another Slade drop goal loomed, Chiefs were penalised at the ruck and the game was over.

Chiefs will travel home with an important bonus point, but it means the potential for a preferable draw in a last 16 game hinges on a dominant performance against Cardiff Rugby at Sandy Park next Sunday afternoon.

Full-time: Stade Francais 27 – 25 Chiefs

Stade Francais: J Jonas; C Laloi, J Marchant, T Vili, L Etien (Delbouis 48’); L Bourdette (Barre 46’), T Motassi; J Iscaro (Emile 48’), G Nicotera, P Emile (Melikidze 48’), P Gabrillagues, S Turagacoke (Pesenti 46’), J Scelzo, Hirigoyen, I Mapu.

Tries: Melikidze, Motassi, Penalty try, Laloi Conversions: Barre Penalties: Laloi

Chiefs: O Woodburn; I Feyi-Waboso, H Slade, W Rigg, P Brown-Bampoe; W Haydon-Wood, C Chapman; S Sio (Goodrick-Clarke 52’), J Dweba (Yeandle 52’), B Tchumbadze (J Roots 52’), D Jenkins (c) (Pearson 63’), A Zambonin (Tuima 63’), T Hooper, E Roots, G Fisilau (James 74’).

Unused replacements: Cairns, Coen

Tries: Brown-Bampoe, Sio 2 Conversions: Slade 2 Penalties: Slade Drop goal: Slade

Yellow card: Greg Fisilau, Lewis Pearson

Referee: Craig Evans