Stade Français Triumphs Over La Rochelle to Escape Last Place in Top 14
The 22-17 victory at home marks a crucial turning point for Stade Français, while La Rochelle suffers its sixth consecutive defeat, deepening its ongoing struggles.
- Stade Français secured a 22-17 win against La Rochelle during the 18th round of the Top 14, moving off the bottom of the league standings.
- The match saw both teams reduced to 14 players for over half the game due to red cards for dangerous play, including La Rochelle's Will Skelton and Stade Français' Sekou Macalou.
- La Rochelle's performance was marred by indiscipline, conceding 14 penalties and losing eight lineouts, which Stade Français capitalized on with precise kicking from Zack Henry, who scored 17 points.
- Despite a late-game push by La Rochelle, including two tries and a brief period where Stade Français played with just 12 players, the Parisian side held on for the vital victory.
- This loss extends La Rochelle's losing streak to six games across all competitions, raising concerns about their ability to regain form before the return of key international players.
Ouest-France 