The team that has only ever lost once at home in 19 outings in Europe’s top tournament is not so clever on the road in the Heineken Cup, boasting a success rate of less than 50%.
And included among the 11 reverses suffered in 20 away ties are defeats at Llanelli in 1998 (17-13), Swansea in 2000 (18-16) and Newport in 2003 (20-12).
No wonder, then, that Stade’s new coach, the former French Grand Slam skipper Fabien Galthie has warned his players to expect a tough night’s work against Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park tomorrow.
‘Beating Gloucester at home last weekend was just a little step along the road to qualification in the Heineken Cup – it certainly wasn’t the key to going through,’ said Galthie. ‘Now we must go to Cardiff and try to win again. That will be another story and we know it won’t be easy.
‘Had we lost at home last weekend it would have been a big blow to us. Now we just have to try to keep on winning.’
Galthie has made three changes to his starting line-up from last weekend. The versatile Italian Mauro Bergamasco moves from wing to back row to replace Raphael Jechoux to allow Raphael Poulain to return to the three quarter line.
Uruguayan international Pablo Lemoine, one of the heaviest men in the Heineken Cup at 19st 10lbs, comes into the front row at loose head. Argentinian prop Rodrigo Roncero drops down to a bench that shows five forwards and only two backs.
Having retained the French title last season Stade are desperate to join Toulouse and Brive among the winners names on the Heineken Cup. They reached the final on virtually ‘home’ soil at Parc Des Princes in 2001, but lost to Leicester Tigers in a sensatinoal game.
‘Playing in the Heineken Cup always motivates us and we’ll be looking for anotehr good result in Cardiff. The final is such a long way off, but we know we have to play well just to qualify for the knock-out stages,’ said Stade hooker Mathieu Blin. ‘I don’t know if we will become the top side in Europe this season, but what I can say is we are capable of producing some incredible performances both home and away. It is our stated ambition to win as many trophies as possible.
‘We spotted plenty of mistakes in our opening victory over Gloucester when we watched the video of the game and we know we will have to tighten up on them. We go to Cardiff with plenty of ambition and plenty of respect.’
The fact Cardiff played on Friday night last week means they will have had an extra days rest over the Stade players. But it is going to take a massive effort from the Blues players to get their Heineken Cup campaign back on the road after last weekend’s defeat in Ulster.
Stade Francais Paris:
C Dominici; J Arias, S Glas, Mirco Bergamasco, R Paoulain; D Skrela, A Pichot; P Lamoine, M Blin, S Marconnet, D Auradou (captain), M James, P Rabadan, Mauro Bergamasco, Shaun Sowerby
Replacements: B Kayser, R Roncero, O Brouzet, C Moni, R Jechoux, G Quesada, J Fillol
