Stade Français, Top 14 Champions for 2015

Stade Français ensured Clermont’s dire record continued as the Paris club handed the side from central France their 11th defeat in 12 French finals.

South African flyhalf Morné Steyn kicked Stade Français into a 6 / 0 lead, while Morgan Parra missed 2 chances to reduce the lead for Clermont.

Steyn added a 3rd penalty before Camille Lopez made it 9 / 3 at the break.

Brock James cut the gap to 3 but missed a chance to level the scores and Steyn added a 4th penalty late on.

It was the 2nd defeat in a final this season for Clermont, who lost the Champions Cup Final to Toulon in May – the 2nd time in 3 years the Mediterranean club have beaten the Vulcans to become European champions.

“Once again we lose – we have this horrible reputation,” said Clermont captain Damien Chouly. “There’s an anger we feel towards ourselves, what with history repeating itself.”

In contrast, Stade Français captain Sergio Parisse said “it’s just a dream”.

“It wasn’t a great Final to watch, but we don’t care, we dealt with it and we let nothing go,” added the Italy No 8.

It was a nervy and low-scoring encounter, which was ultimately decided by the power of the Stade Français scrum, and the greater accuracy of their kicker Morné Steyn.

Clermont were missing France’s Wesley Fofana and Wales’ Jonathan Davies in the centres through injury and, with their midfield attacking threat duly blunted, they rarely looked like breaking down the powerful Stade Français defence.

With the Vulcans trailing by 3 points inside the final 10 minutes, former England fullback Nick Abdendanon’s counter-attack saw him beat a handful of men and take Clermont into the Stade Français 22.

But when the ball was recycled, giant Fijian wing Napolioni Nalaga was bundled into touch 5m metres out.

Clermont still had a chance to level the scores but James missed an angled penalty to end their challenge and Steyn’s 4th kick made certain of the win for Stade Français.

Final Score: Stade Français 12 / 6 Clermont Auvergne

bbc