Meyer starts with rout in France
TOP 14 WRAP: Stade Francais kicked off the Top 14 season and their new era under coach Heyneke Meyer in style, with a 46-15 thrashing of newly-promoted Perpignan on Saturday.
The 50-year-old Meyer, who led his native South Africa to the 2015 World Cup semifinals, saw his men run six tries past Perpignan at the Stade Aime Giral.
Stade struggled badly last season, finishing down in 12th place and only avoiding relegation on the final day of the campaign, but, financed by Swiss billionaire Hans-Peter Wild, they have the biggest budget in the French top flight.
The capital-city side raced into a 29-3 half-time lead as they laid down a marker to their title rivals at the earliest opportunity.
They even had to manage with 14 men for over half the match, after Italian talisman Sergio Parisse was sent off shortly before half-time.
“It’s a great win and we’re savouring it,” said Stade forwards coach Pieter de Villiers. “We’re especially happy for the players who worked hard during the off-season, we insisted on physical preparation to be ready and today it paid off.
“Yes, we have high ambitions. Our owner gives us the means for those ambitions. But our first ambition is to establish a winning culture.”
France flank Sekou Macalou and fullback Kylan Hamdaoui both scored two tries for the visitors, with Fijian international Waisea Nayacalevu and scrumhalf Piet van Zyl also touching down.
Springbok flyhalf Morne Steyn kicked 16 points as Stade sealed a comfortable bonus-point victory.
There will be easier days for Perpignan, for whom former Ireland scrumhalf Paddy Jackson scored a try and a penalty on his debut, with their other points coming from a penalty try.
Le premier de la saison ! 🔥😍#USAPSFP #Victoire #SFParis pic.twitter.com/xlVAg8C0xU
— Stade Français Paris (@SFParisRugby) August 25, 2018
Elsewhere, Toulouse snatched a 16-16 draw at last season’s surprise semifinalists Lyon, as France fullback Yoann Huget grabbed a crucial second-half try before Thomas Ramos’ late drop goal sealed two points.
Clermont’s bid to put last year’s dreadful title defence got off to the perfect start, as former All Black Isaia Toeava and Alivereti Raka both crossed twice to help them crush Agen 67-23, scoring 10 tries in total.
Scottish scrumhalf Greig Laidlaw also kicked 17 points for Franck Azema’s men, but it is their away form that they will need to improve on from the last term after winning just one of 14 games on the road in 2017-18.
Bordeaux-Begles powered past Pau 41-19, while La Rochelle narrowly managed to hold off Grenoble as a 75th-minute score from Jean-Charles Orioli secured a 28-21 victory.
The big game of the opening weekend is on Sunday, as reigning champions Castres launch their title defence against Montpellier in a repeat of June’s final.
Agence France-Presse
