Stade Français make it 14

In a tryless Final of the Top 14, France's championship, on Saturday night, Stade Français beat Clermont Auvergne 12-6, four kicks to two kicks.

It was the 14th time that the Parisians have won the Championnat. But it is the 11th time that Clermont have lost the Final, winning just once – 2010. They had played Stade Français once before when they lost 23-18 in 2007.

In this Finals, not a flowing match, Clermont played the more attacking rugby and looked more likely to score a try, but they ended up losing again, and there is no chasm greater than that between winning and losing a Final, especially a Final of great importance and long tradition as the Top 14 Final is – the glamorous culmination of 26 rounds of tough competition plus knock-out rounds to get there.

It was, yet again, a grand occasion with the great stadium packed with some 80 000 excited, joyful spectators. Or that's how it was before the final whistle for after that there were many disconsolate players and spectators, the vast difference between crying in joy and crying in deep sorrow.

Before the match there was an hour or so of happy entertainment. Then there arrived a golden float like a boat with a rugby ball for hits bulwark, golden rugby posts, and on its golden prow in pride of place the Bouclier of Brennus which was delivered to four beautiful ladies in white, sort of sexy Vestal Virgins who, showing lots of leg, delivered the trophy to two SCUF (Sporting Club Universitaire de France) students, for they are the custodians of the Bouclier.

The two teams walked out onto the field solemnly to be introduced to an undelighted dignitary. The players stood in a line while the names of each of the 46 players was announced with appropriate cheering by a noisy crowd where there were swathes of pink and swathes of yellow. Then there was a bout of handclapping to honour Geofrey Abadie who died on 6 June this year at the age of 55. He had played for both Stade Français and Racing in years when they won the Championnat.

Camille Lopez of Clermont kicked off and the noisy crowd was obvious for a long time afterwards.

The first action was a break by fast, sinuous Nick Abendanon. The first scrum produced a penalty and the first time Clermont missed a penalty kick at goal. They missed three, enough to have won the match – in theory.

It was not a  flowing game but an energetic one, as Julien Dupuy showed when he tapped the first penalty in Stade Français' four and scurried away.

The penalty count in the match was important – 16-8 in Stade Français's favour as infringements cost Clermont greatly.

There was an unhurtful squabble with much unhurtful pushing that ended with a yellow card for flank Julien Bardy.

Then Morné Steyn kicked three penalty goals at 14 minutes, 21 minutes and 28 minutes and the Parisians led 9-0. Just on half-time Lopez, who had taken over the kicking from Parra, at last got Clermont on the board with a penalty goal. 9-3 at the break.

Brock James, the hero of Clermont's semifinal, substituted for Lopez. On 61 minutes he goaled a penalty to make the score 9-6.

Abendanon, the most exciting and adventurous player on the field started a counterattack which ended when Napolioni Nalaga was tackled into touch. There used to be a priceless rugby commodity called French flair. The one player who had it in this match was Abendanon, who was born in Johannesburg and played international rugby for England.

Clermont had a golden opportunity to draw level when Julien Pierre won a Stade Français line-out and Jono Ross was penalised at a tackle, but James missed the long kick. But with a minute to play Steyn kicked his fourth penalty goal and Stade Français won the Bouclier de Brennus.

When Brennus sacked Rome he had the Romans pay a large amount of gold. When the Romans complained that his weights were unfair, he put his sword on the scale and said Vae victis – woe to the conquered.

It was a bit like that with final whistle. Those who had won the Shield O Brennus showed their glee in various ways. They hugged and kissed. Pascal Papé cried and their leader, Sergio Parisse lay face down on the field and sobbed, but the tears with those of joy.

The 'victis' also shed tears, tears of despair as they sat soggy and disconsolate, staring grimfaced  ahead in their deep disappointment.

Eventually the match officials climbed the stair to receive medals from a bank of officials. Then came the unsmiling men of Clermont-Ferrand and then the joyous Parisians of Stade Français.

Man of the Match; Nick Abendanon – he who had the vision, skill and courage to  provide the highlights of the evening's play.

Scorers:

For Stade Français:

Pens: Morné Steyn 4

For Clermont:

Pens: Camille Lopez, Brock James

Teams

Clermont: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Marcellin Buttin, 13 Aurélien Rougerie, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Napolioni Nalaga, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Damien Chouly, 7 Julien Bardy, 6 Fritz Lee, 5 Sébastien Vaha'amahina, 4 Paul Jedrasiak, 3 David Zirakashvili, 2 John Ulugia, 1 Thomas Domingo.

Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Raphaël Chaume, 18 Julien Pierre, 19  Alexandre Lapandry, 20 Ludovic Radosavljevic, 21 Brock James, 22 Mike Delany, 23 Clément Ric.

Stade Français: 15 Djibril Camara, 14  Julien Arias, 13 Nayacalevu Waisea, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Jérémy Sinzelle, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Julien Dupuy, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Raphale Lakafia, 6 Antoine Burban, 5 Alexandre Flanquart, 4 Hugh Pyle, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Rémi Bonfils, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.

Replacements: 16 Laurent Sempéré, 17 Sakaria Taulafo, 18 Pascal Papé, 19 Jono Ross, 20 Jérôme Fillol, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Geoffrey Doumayrou, 23 Davit Kubriashvili.

Referee: Pascal Gauzère

Assistant referees: Romain Poite, Salem Attalah

Television match official: Jean-Pierre Pellaprat