Stade Francais boosted to Challenge Cup final by merger talk, says Craig Burden
Thursday 11 May 2017 19:36, UK
In March news broke of a proposed merger between rival Paris clubs Stade Francais and Racing 92, sending shockwaves through rugby.
But just a week's worth of striking later, the matter was dropped, allowing the players to get on with their jobs.
Seemingly spurred on by the proposal, Stade Francais went out to prove their worth and resurrected their faltering season with five wins out of six to take them within one victory of the Top 14 play-offs, and a place in the Challenge Cup final.
Though the turnaround surprised some, hooker Craig Burden said the prospect of playing for pride spurred the players on.
"The whole proposed fusion, I think it lasted about a week - if that - but obviously it created a lot of uncertainty within the squad," Burden told Sky Sports.
"Every individual was unsure of their future in terms of whether they would have a job or not.
Live European Rugby Challenge Cup
"It wasn't great to have that atmosphere among the boys, but as soon as that fizzled out we had a meeting among the squad and made sure everyone was back on board and completely focused on the remainder of the season.
"After that we had a few big wins and all of a sudden we had turned the tables and our season was back on track. We progressed nicely up the Top 14 ladder and we've progressed through the knock-out stages of the Challenge Cup.
"That was really positive, getting some momentum going into the latter stages of both competitions."
Burden says that although brief, the time away from the game meant the Stade players renewed their desire for success.
"All of a sudden you go from a full-time job playing rugby to sitting back doing nothing for a full week. I think that instilled a big hunger to get straight back in it and finish on a good note.
"The commitment came from everyone within the squad, including the management and the coaches - getting everyone focussed on the same goal, putting everything on the line and leaving it all out there.
"We wanted to make sure that at the end of the season, no matter where the club was heading, we'd given our best to finish on a high. It was especially important for all the boys who have been a part of the club for many years.
"We've got a fair bunch of boys leaving at the end of the season, but the commitment from all of the guys within the squad has been great.
"It will be fitting for those leaving if we can get a bit of silverware at the end of the season, and send those boys off on a high."
The opportunity for a domestic trophy evaporated last week when Stade were beaten by a single point by Montpellier in the final round. Though unhappy with the result, Burden says the club has taken a lot out of their regular season closer.
Live European Rugby Champions Cup
"It was a disappointment not to get the win. It wasn't black and white [ahead of the game] that we would go through if we won, there were one or two results that had to play out in our favour.
"But I think we played a great game and there were a lot of positives to take out of the game and into the next two or three games that lie ahead."
In the Challenge Cup fortunes have been better; the French outfit saw off Ospreys in the quarter-final before completing a stunning comeback to down Bath in the semi-final. Stade were comfortably ahead in the latter stages of that game before Bath launched an onslaught that put the Premiership side seven points ahead with three minutes remaining.
But then came a breakaway try by second rower Hugh Pyle and a conversion from Jules Plisson to level things up, before the fly-half slotted a drop goal to clinch victory in the dying seconds.
Asked who earns the most plaudits for Stade's win, Burden can't split them.
"They both deserved a few beers. A 50-metre try from a lock was fantastic to watch.
"Jules Plisson played a hell of a game as well, he was consistent throughout. It really put us on the front foot when he knocked over the penalties and then helped us get the win."
The South African said the cosmopolitan make-up of the squad ensures that there is always something unexpected around the corner from his side.
"You've got such a diverse bunch within the team, such exciting players who, at any stage in the game - you've seen it throughout the Top 14 - all of those players can spark something and create something out of nothing.
"That can come at the start of a game, or in the last two or three minutes of a game. It's the calibre of the players you're playing with."
Up next the Parisians face Gloucester, who resisted a stern test against Cardiff Blues in their quarter-final before seeing off Top league leaders La Rochalle to progress to the final.
"They're a consistent side who have had some good wins," said Burden of the Cherry and Whites. "They had a good home win against Cardiff, and to win against La Rochelle in La Rochelle is a hell of a feat.
"They are a well-rounded team, they've got a great set-piece and some dangerous backline players - but then again so do we so it's going to be quite a game. It's a clash of very similar styles."
