Jonathan Danty red-carded in Stade Francais' loss to Toulouse
Last Updated: 25/04/15 6:43am
Toulouse clinched a 21-12 victory at Stade Francais on Friday night, capitalising on the Paris club having to play more than half the match with 14 men.
Stade were well-placed for victory when they led 9-8 late in the first period, but a red card for centre Jonathan Danty for violent play proved costly.
A Jules Plisson penalty gave Stade an early lead but that was quickly cancelled out by a Jean-Marc Doussain kick.
Plisson slotted another two penalties to put the hosts back in front but it was Toulouse who grabbed the first try from their first serious foray into the Stade 22.
Scrum-half Nicolas Bezy made the crucial break with full-back Maxime Medard arriving in support to go over for an unconverted try.
Bezy then thought he had scored his team's second try but his long-range effort was ruled out for a dangerous high tackle by prop Neemia Tialata on Laurent Sempere in the build-up.
Stade centre Danty was then red-carded for punching Toulouse winger Vincent Clerc after he had been tripped by the veteran star.
Toulouse's English import Toby Flood missed a penalty late in the first half as Stade hung on to their 9-8 lead but faced the prospect of playing the closing 40 minutes with 14 men.
Morne Steyn replaced Plisson at half-time after the Frenchman suffered a dislocated shoulder, and the South African’s first significant piece of action was to push a drop goal wide of the posts.
Stade edged ahead 12-8 when Steyn succeeded with a penalty after Toulouse had been penalised at a maul.
Flood pulled Toulouse back to within a point on the hour mark with a penalty and then edged his team in front for the first time on the night with a 25-metre effort for 14-12.
Stade quickly wilted and French international flanker Yannick Nyanga crossed for Toulouse's second try five minutes from time, with Flood kicking a tricky conversion to clinch victory.
