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Andy Goode gives Wasps slender play-off advantage over Stade Français Andy Goode gives Wasps slender play-off advantage over Stade Français
(35 minutes later)
Wasps may have snatched a last-gasp winon Sunday but their chances of regaining a place at European rugby's top table seem remote. They go to Paris and Stade Français' spanking new Stade Jean-Bouin on Saturday for the second leg of this play-off for a place in next season's European Rugby Champions Cup, just a single point ahead of a side who started their season with 13 straight home wins to lead the French league. Wasps snatched a last-gasp win over Stade Français on Sunday but their chances of regaining a place at European rugby's top table seem remote. They go to Paris and the French club's spanking new Stade Jean-Bouin on Saturday for the second leg of this play-off for a place in next season's European Rugby Champions Cup a single point ahead of a side who started their season with 13 straight home wins to lead the French league.
Wasps, 12 points up with 19 minutes to go thanks to a sparkling 60-metre try from Joe Simpson, allowed Stade into the game within a minute, the scrum-half guilty this time and his clearing kick charged down to give the replacement fly-half Jérôme Fillol sight of the line. Wasps, 12 points up with 19 minutes to go thanks to a sparkling 60-metre try from Joe Simpson, allowed Stade into the game within a minute, the scrum-half guilty this time and his clearing kick charged down to give the replacement fly-half, Jérôme Fillol, sight of the line.
An even classier try, when Stade's Fijian centre Waisea Vuidravuwalu went 70 metres through the Wasps midfield before outpacing the cover, made the score level and Stade went 29-27 ahead following the conversion before Andy Goode banished the chance of a rare Stade win away from home, kicking his third penalty of the game to sneak a victory. An even classier try, when Stade's Fijian centre Waisea Vuidravuwalu went 70 metres through the Wasps midfield before outpacing the cover, made the scores level and Stade went 29-27 ahead with the conversion before Andy Goode banished the chance of a rare Stade win away from home, kicking his third penalty of the game to sneak a victory.
"Our achillles heel was obviously there for everyone to see again," said Dai Young, the Wasps director of rugby. "We work hard to score points but we make fundamental errors that allow teams to get great field position or to gain points.""Our achillles heel was obviously there for everyone to see again," said Dai Young, the Wasps director of rugby. "We work hard to score points but we make fundamental errors that allow teams to get great field position or to gain points."
Young reckoned that three of Stade's four tries were the result of Wasps errors, but said: "We always needed to win both games to go through. I never thought we would leave Adams Park with a huge lead and then sit back. Young reckoned that three of Stade's four tries were the result of Wasps errors but said: "We always needed to win both games to go through. I never thought we would leave Adams Park with a huge lead and then sit back.
"It would be very dangerous anyway to sit back against a team like Stade and think they won't score too many points, because they're gonna. But we proved today that we could have caused them problems. I like to think a couple of the fundamental errors that cost us today, we won't make next week." "It would be very dangerous anyway to sit back against a team like Stade and think they won't score too many points, because they're gonna. But we proved today that we could have caused them problems. I like to think a couple of the fundamental errors that cost us today we won't make next week."
In truth, but for some dire kicking by the first-choice Stade scrum-half, Julien Dupuy, who missed three first-half sitters, Wasps, twice Heineken Cup champions, would be going to Paris looking for an even bigger upset if they are to make best use of the reprieve which the play-offs granted them.In truth, but for some dire kicking by the first-choice Stade scrum-half, Julien Dupuy, who missed three first-half sitters, Wasps, twice Heineken Cup champions, would be going to Paris looking for an even bigger upset if they are to make best use of the reprieve which the play-offs granted them.
Wasps knew they were in for a long afternoon when their first three scrums went backward. Goode did get an early penalty but it was only the generosity of Dupuy that kept Wasps noses ahead until one of their old boys came back to punish them. Wasps knew they were in for a long afternoon when their first three scrums went backwards. Goode did get an early penalty but it was only the generosity of Dupuy that kept Wasps' noses ahead until one of their old boys came back to punish them.
Tackles from James Haskell, playing with the kind of enthusiasm that was bound to end up with a yellow card, Will Helu and Tom Palmer helped break up three or four promising moves before Hugo Bonneval set up the opening French score. The former France full-back shimmied to within five metres before the Samoan prop Zak Taulafo, who stopped off in London on his way from New Zealand to Paris, reached out and got the ball to the line.Tackles from James Haskell, playing with the kind of enthusiasm that was bound to end up with a yellow card, Will Helu and Tom Palmer helped break up three or four promising moves before Hugo Bonneval set up the opening French score. The former France full-back shimmied to within five metres before the Samoan prop Zak Taulafo, who stopped off in London on his way from New Zealand to Paris, reached out and got the ball to the line.
This time Dupuy did convert but Goode got another penalty to reduce the lead to a point as the pendulum began to swing Wasps' way, Tom Varndell showing his pace to squeeze in in the corner. The move started with a line out on the right which Nathan Hughes gathered and in a blink Elliot Daly was giving the wing a scoring chance that he took by rounding Bonneval. This time Dupuy did convert but Goode got another penalty to reduce the lead to a point as the pendulum began to swing Wasps' way. Tom Varndell then showed his pace to squeeze in in the corner. The move started with a lineout on the right which Nathan Hughes gathered and in a blink Elliot Daly was giving the wing a scoring chance that he took by rounding Bonneval.
Goode converted, but Wasp were about to suffer at the hands of another winger. Djibril Camara had twice threatened before the fast hands of Morné Steyn and his fellow winger Julien Arias gave Camara an unhindered run home. Again Dupuy missed, making it eight points down the drain in 40 minutes when Stade had the option of the South Africa kicker Morne Steyn kicking only his heels. Goode converted but Wasps were about to suffer at the hands of another wing. Djibril Camara had twice threatened before the fast hands of Morné Steyn and his fellow winger Julien Arias gave Camara an unhindered run home. Again Dupuy missed, making it eight points down the drain in 40 minutes, when Stade had the option of the South Africa kicker Steyn kicking only his heels.
A bit more sloppy work by the scrum-half and a boot ahead from Goode, gave Johnson the second Wasps try before Simpson put them on the brink of taking something worthwhile to Paris. "We should probably have been going there with a 10-point lead. They are going to play but there will be opportunities for us," said Young. A bit more sloppy work by the scrum-half and a boot ahead from Goode gave Ashley Johnson the second Wasps try before Simpson put them on the verge of taking something worthwhile to Paris. "We should probably have been going there with a 10-point lead. They are going to play but there will be opportunities for us," said Young.
One way or another, one of Europe's big beasts – Stade were Heineken Cup runners up in 2001 and 2005 – will be returning to the top tier. Unfortunately for Wasps, it looks like being Stade. Especially if they have their captain and totem, Sergio Parisse, back from injury. One way or another one of Europe's big beasts – Stade were Heineken Cup runners-up in 2001 and 2005 – will be returning to the top tier. Unfortunately for Wasps it looks like being Stade, especially if they have their captain and totem, Sergio Parisse, back from injury.
Wasps Masi; Helu, Daly, Bell (capt) Varndell; Goode, Simpson; Mullan (McIntyre, 65), Festuccia (Lindsay, 65), Swainston, Launchbury, Palmer (Myall, 51), Johnson (Thompson, 65), Haskell, Hughes (Johnson, 77). Wasps Masi; Helu, Daly, Bell (capt) Varndell; Goode, Simpson; Mullan (McIntyre 65), Festuccia (Lindsay 65), Swainston, Launchbury, Palmer (Myall 51), Johnson (Thompson 65), Haskell, Hughes (Johnson 77).
Tries Varndell, Johnson, Simpson .Cons Goode 3. Pens Goode 2.Tries Varndell, Johnson, Simpson .Cons Goode 3. Pens Goode 2.
Stade Français Bonneval; Arias, Vuidravuwalu, Bosman, Camara (Sinzelle, 69); Steyn (Fillol, 53), Dupuy (Plisson, 53); Taulafo (Van der Merwe, 48), Sempere (Panis, 53), Slimani (Kubrishvili, 48), Flanquart (Van Zyl, 62), Pape, Burban, Nicolas (Slavalla, 4), Lyons. Stade Français Bonneval; Arias, Vuidravuwalu, Bosman, Camara (Sinzelle 69); Steyn (Fillol 53), Dupuy (Plisson 53); Taulafo (Van der Merwe 48), Sempere (Panis 53), Slimani (Kubrishvili 48), Flanquart (Van Zyl 62), Pape, Burban, Nicolas (Slavalla 4), Lyons.
Tries Taulafo, Camara, Fillol , Vuidravuwalu. Cons Dupuy, Fillol, Plisson. Pen Dupuy. Tries Taulafo, Camara, Fillol, Vuidravuwalu. Cons Dupuy, Fillol, Plisson. Pen Dupuy.
Referee John Lacey (Ireland). Attendance 5,125. Referee J Lacey (Ireland). Attendance 5,125.