Morné Steyn kicked 28 points as Stade Français beat Racing Métro 38-15 on Friday to advance to the Top 14 semi-finals.
Stade, who completed the double over their Paris neighbours in the league phase, marked their return to the play-offs for the first time in six years with a dominant display at home.
Outside centre Waisea Vuidravuwala scored an early try for the hosts, before Racing were reduced to 14 men when tighthead prop Luc Ducalcon was yellow-carded. Stade were awarded a penalty try soon after with Steyn slotting both conversions and a further penalty for a 17-point buffer. But a converted try by scrumhalf Maxime Machenaud, on the stroke of half-time, gave Racing hope as they trailed 17-7 at the break.
Steyn and Racing flyhalf Johnny Sexton traded penalties at the resumption, but while the latter was deprived of further opportunities, Steyn went on to add six more penalty goals, for a perfect 10 from 10 record on the night.
Racing did manage to score again when replacement centre Jamie Roberts burrowed over, but it was scant consolation as they crashed out of the competition.
Stade will face will either Clermont or Toulon in the semi-finals next week, depending on the result between Toulouse and Oyonnax in the second play-off qualifier tomorrow.
Stade Français – Tries: Waisea Vuidravuwala, penalty try. Conversions: Morné Steyn (2). Penalties: Steyn (8).
Racing Métro – Tries: Maxime Machenaud, Jamie Roberts. Conversion: Jonathan Sexton. Penalty: Sexton.
Stade Français – 15 Djibril Camara, 14 Jeremy Sinzelle, 13 Waisea Vuidravuwala, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Julien Arias, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Julien Dupuy, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Raphaël Lakafia, 6 Antoine Burban, 5 Alexandre Flanquart, 4 Hugh Pyle, 3 Rabah Slimane, 2 Remi Bonfils, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Subs: 16 Laurent Sémpre, 17 Sakaria Taulafo, 18 Pascal Papé, 19 Jono Ross, 20 Julien Tomas, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Geoffrey Doumayrou, 23 Davit Kubriashvili.
Racing Métro – 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Juan Imhoff, 13 Henry Chavancy, 12 Alexandre Dumoulin, 11 Teddy Thomas, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Maxime Machenaud, 8 Antonie Claassen, 7 Bernard le Roux, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 5 Tómas Lavanini, 4 Luc Charteris, 3 Luc Ducalcon, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Davit Khinchagishvili.
Subs: 16 Virgile Lacombe, 17 Eddy Ben Arous, 18 Brian Mujati, 19 Francois van der Merwe, 20 Camille Gerondeau, 21 Mike Phillips, 22 Benjamin Dambielle, 23 Jamie Roberts.
Photo: Charly Triballeau/AFP Photo
