Irish left disappointed by last-gasp try
London Irish 20 Stade Français Paris 26
NICK KENNEDY was pleased with his side’s improved display as they were cruelly denied by a last-gasp try against Stade Français at the Mad Stad.
The Exiles led 20-19 heading into the final minute after a penalty try and a Scott Steele score only for the French outfit to snatch the win when Tony Ensor crossed the whitewash.
And the result leaves Irish with work to do if they are to reach the quarter-finals, sitting third in the group with two games to play, both against Russian outfit Krasny Yar.
“To lose the game in the manner that we did is obviously very disappointing,” said director of rugby Kennedy.
“But if we look at the performance and the effort that we demonstrated, we applied ourselves well.
“I was looking for a reaction from last week’s defeat at Edinburgh (50-20) and I got that, which was encouraging.
“I don’t normally like to single out players, but I thought Sebastian De Chaves really stood up as captain and he led from the front.”
Kennedy again heavily rotated his side as Irish looked to repeat the big win they achieved in the reverse fixture in Paris.
And Irish looked dangerous from the start, but fell behind on 15 minutes through Roman Martial although former Exiles man Shane Geraghty struck the post with the conversion.
Back came the hosts, getting their noses in front as scrumhalf Steele collected possession from the powerful Lasha Lomidze to go over and Greig Tonks’ conversion was good.
Leading 10-5 at the break, Irish pushed further ahead at 17-5 after being awarded a penalty try following a dominant push from the pack.
Giorgi Melikidze reduced the arrears before replacement Waisea Vuidravuwalu also got his name on the score-sheet.
But trailing 19-17, Exiles looked to have taken victory with just two minutes to play when Tonks slotted over a penalty after Joe Cokanasiga had been stopped just before the line.
However there was time for one more twist as good handling from the Stade backs unpicked the Irish defence allowing Ensor in to score.
The defeat extends Irish’s losing run to eight matches in all competitions ahead of Friday night’s huge Premiership clash with second-bottom Worcester Warriors at Sixways (7.45pm).
Six points separate the league’s bottom side Irish and Friday’s opponents in what has become a key game in the Exiles’ season and their fight for survival.
“There are no guaranteed starters,” said Kennedy.
“There is real competition for places at the moment.
“We’re only just approaching the midway point in the season and there are lots of points still to be won.
“The players know what we want to see from them on Friday night and I’ve got no
doubt that they’re going to deliver against Worcester.”
LONDON IRISH: Tonks, Ransom (Cokanasiga 56), Fowlie (M. Williams 55), J. Williams, Loader, Brophy Clews, Steele (Brand 59), Reid (Elrington 59), Woolstencroft, Chawatama (Du Plessis 55), Lloyd, De Chaves (c), Basham (Curtis-Harris 75), Cooke, Lomidze.
Tries: Steele (26), Penalty (47)
Con: Tonks (27) Pens: Tonks x2 (36,78)
STADE FRANCAIS: Ensor, Yobo, Millet (Vuidarvuwalu 56), Williams (Danty 56), Martial, Geraghty (Plisson 67), Daguin, Fisi’ihoi, Panis, Cittadini, Gabrillagues (c), De Giovanni, Pyle, Macalou, Meite.
Tries: Martial (15), Vuidarvuwalu (66), Ensor (80)
Cons: Geraghty (66), Plisson (80)
Referee: Ben Whitehouse
Attendance: 5,800