Morné Steyn starred with the boot as Stade Français defeated Toulon 37-10, while there were also wins for Lyon, Castres, Clermont, Agen, Toulouse and La Rochelle in the French Top 14.
Stade and Toulon enjoyed contrasting fortunes last week, with the former losing and the latter winning their respective games. But this match between them played out differently as Stade turned on the style to return to winning ways in front of the Stade Jean-Bouin faithful.
Steyn top-scored with 15 points via three conversions and three penalty kicks. The win takes Heyneke Meyer’s team back up to second in the standings, behind Clermont.
Le groupe vit bien ? #SFPRCT #SFParis pic.twitter.com/vTr4Kz7EB6
— Stade Français Paris (@SFParisRugby) September 16, 2018
A Steyn penalty and a brace from centre Gael Fickou ensured the hosts held a handy 17-3 lead deep into the first half, but wing Julian Savea crossed in the 37th minute to get Toulon within seven at the break.
That was as good as it got for the visitors. They were kept scoreless in the second half and reduced to bystanders as Stade ran riot. Steyn extended his side’s advantage with two penalties early in the second half, before hooker Laurent Panis bagged their third try.
The scoring dried up thereafter, but there was no shortage of action as both teams contributed to maintaining the game’s entertaining edge.
In the 70th minute, a fight broke out that saw even an official from the home side get involved from the sideline in a heated exchange with Toulon’s Liam Messam. The official had to be restrained from physically attacking Messam.
When the game resumed, Savea and Stade’s Sekou Macalou were yellow-carded for their hand in the fight. But Stade kept going at it and in 76th minute, lock Hugh Pyle pounced on a dreadful error by Jacques Potgieter to score the bonus-point try for the hosts.
VIDEO: Heyneke Meyer gets worked up during @SFParisRugby’s Top 14 match against Toulon. pic.twitter.com/b5clS8TNCR
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) September 16, 2018
In other results, South African locks Hendrik Roodt and Etiene Oosthuizen scored a try each as Lyon stunned Montpellier 55-13, Castres recorded a 29-13 bonus-point win over Grenoble, Clermont battled to a 27-23 victory against Pau, Agen beat Bordeaux 22-17, Toulouse were 30-17 victors over Racing 92, and La Rochelle lashed Perpignan 37-10.
Round 4 results:
Stade Français 37 Toulon 10
Lyon 55 Montpellier 13
Castres 29 Grenoble 13
Pau 23 Clermont 27
Agen 22 Bordeaux 17
Toulouse 30 Racing 17
La Rochelle 37 Perpignan 10
Photo: Anthony Dibon/Icon SportGetty Images
