Africa-Press – South-Africa. A second half horror show saw the Lions go down 17-7 to Stade Francais in their European Challenge Cup clash at the Stade Jean-Bouin in Paris on Saturday.
It was a game of two halves, with the Lions completely dominating the first period before falling flat in the second stanza.
The Lions, playing in a blue and yellow away strip, led 7-0 at the break courtesy of a try by No 8 Emmanuel Tshituka. However, they will rue making several errors deep into Stade Francais territory which prevented them from building a substantial lead.
The hosts, perhaps buoyed by being only 7-0 down at the break, came out with renewed vigour in the second half and completely dominated.
Stade Francais scored 17 unanswered points and kept the Lions scoreless. Flyhalf Joris Segonds kicked two penalties to bring his side to within a point, before the hosts took the lead in the 60th minute when replacement hooker Laurent Panis went over after a powerful driving maul.
Three yellow cards – for flyhalf Gianni Lombard (53rd minute), prop JP Smith (55th minute) and centre Henco van Wyk (67th minute) – proved killer blows to the Lions’ chances.
The visitors were unable to create any chances in the second half and late penalties by replacement flyhalf Arthur Coville also took a losing bonus point away from the Lions.
Earlier in the competition, the Lions had beaten Stade Francais 30-12 at Ellis Park on 16 December.
Scorers:
Stade Francais 17 (0)
Try: Laurent Panis
Penalties: Joris Segonds (2), Arthur Coville (2)
Lions 7 (7)
Try: Emmanuel Tshituka
Conversion: Gianni Lombard
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