Pragmatic in pink: Stade Français
Winners away to Ulster in the first round of the Heineken Cup and undefeated in eight games, Stade Français are impressing all who watch them with their consistency.
Winners away to Ulster in the first round of the Heineken Cup and undefeated in eight games, Stade Français are impressing all who watch them with their consistency.
Stade Français dispatched Ulster in similar fashion to their cool-headed win over fellow Heineken Cup challengers Perpignan earlier in the season.
Réalisme is the French expression for the no-frills fashion with which the Parisian are going about their business this season. Rock-solid, disciplined defence combined with a lethal kicking game mean Stade's style is less flamboyant than some of their French compatriots, but it's effectiveness is beyond question.
Paris' three-pronged kicking machine has been in fine form Рwhether it's metronome Lionel Beauxis, the mercurial Juan Martin Hernandez or the monster power of Brian Liebenberg from long range, Stade Fran̤ais have an abundance of kicking riches and the fact that Hernandez and Beauxis can swap fly-half and full-back roles at will is an added bonus.
“Sure, we're spoilt in Paris. It's like we've got the wind at our backs” says centre Guillaume Boussès despite the irony of the fact that he is suffering from a back injury.
As runaway leaders of the Top 14, life is good in Paris at the moment as the former French champs have evolved into a new, more focused force under Ewen McKenzie.
“What we're doing is the continuation of the work done with (former coach) Fabien Galthié. But we're much more meticulous. The players are very attentive when it comes to the new discourse and everyone is working diligently,” added Boussès.
“For the moment the players are living up to our high expectations,” backs coach Christophe Dominici told Midi Olympique.
“We've asked a lot of the players since the start of the season, and they've got a lot to be proud of because what we've done up to now is thanks to the remarkable mindset and discipline in the group.”
As was the case against Perpignan, Stade stamped their own rhythm on the match in Ulster and smothered the opposition with their kicking prowess.
“Our objective was to impose our force and our game, even if it isn't very spectacular yet,” said Dominici.
“But as soon as we're in opposition territory we try to score. We make sure we keep possession of the ball. If we can't get through, we keep going through the phases to provoke an error and we try put our kickers in place for a drop.”
The Pink-clad bunch are pragmatic, but not entirely without inspiration, as illustrated by Boussès' opening try against Ulster.
“The overlap was created instinctively. We tried to change the rhythm in the course of the move,” said the centre.
Unspectacular, but unbeaten. For the moment, Stade Français are sticking to their plan – which they hope will take them back to the top in France…and Europe.