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The All Pinks started with a penalty try before Hugo Bonneval and Josaia Raisuqe also touched down to give the hosts a 21-0 lead at the break
Teenager Josaia Raisuqe scored twice as Stade Francais coasted past Benetton Treviso 40-14 at Stade Jean-Bouin for their second Champions’ Cup win of the season.
A penalty try, Hugo Bonneval and Raisuge’s first, plus three Morne Steyn goals, put Stade 21-0 up at half time.
Raisuqe quickly got his second after the restart before Alberto Sgarbi replied for the visitors. Jayden Hayward added the extras, but Zurabi Zhvania’s converted try restored the home side’s lead.
Though James Ambrosini improved a Davide Giazzon try late on, it was Stade who had the final say as Geoffrey Doumayrou scored on the hooter.
Stade, who were 1/750 to win with Sky Bet ahead of kick off, were far from their best as they were stifled by a spirited Treviso side throughout, with Raisuqe’s class on the wing playing a crucial part in taking the hosts over the line.
Things started well for the home side as a penalty try was awarded by English referee Greg Garner, Styen with the goal, before full back Bonneval scorched over for a superb individual effort from 60 metres out, Steyn with the simple goal.
They romped further ahead on 20 minutes as RUCK Man of the Match Raisuqw raced in for his first of the day, Steyn again adding the extras to make it 21-0 after a rip-roaring first quarter.
Treviso, arguably already out of the contest by this point, began to turn the tide thereafter as stood firm in defence for the second quarter as the hosts carried their 21-point lead into half time.
But Stade flew out of the traps after the break as Raisuge, who will be looking to make his mark on the All Pinks’ return to domestic action at Oyonnax on Sunday, bagged his second to hand Gonzalo Quesada’s men a 26-0 lead after 49 minutes.
That became 28-0 with Steyn’s fourth conversion of the day, but the dogged Italians gave the visiting contingent a moment of well-earned cheer within minutes as Benetton youth product Sgarbi, a veteran of 29 Italy caps, rumbled over to cut the deficit, Hayward with the goal.
But, with Stade making five substitutions inside ten minutes of the restart, they were fresh and began to click as Zhvania went over for a swift reply, Steyn again with the extras to make it 34-5 to the hosts.
However the visitors, bolstered by no fewer than seven changes made by Director of Rugby Marius Goosen across 19 second-half minutes, were superb thereafter, ripping into tackles and showing glimpses of quality in attack.
Stade’s performance was becoming increasingly stale, to the frustration of the 9,000-strong crowd, and rank outsiders Treviso finally got what they were looking for, as they closed to within 20 points as substitute Giazzon went over on 73 minutes, Ambrosini adding the extras to make it 34-14.
But the home side did have the final say with Doumayrou crashing over on 78 minutes to complete the scoring and move Stade five points clear of third-placed Munster, who travel to table-topping Leicester tomorrow.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Stade Francais: Josaia Raisuqe
The little-known former Toulon back was in fine form, running in two hard-earned tries either side of half time. One of the most inexperienced players on the pitch, his contribution to an unconvincing win was vital.
Stade Français: 15 Hugo Bonneval, 14 Josaia Raisuqe, 13 Geoffrey, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Djibril Camara, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Julien Tomas, 8 Sergio Parisse 7 Sylvain Nicolas, 6 Raphael Lakafia, 5 Paul Gabrillagues, 4 Hugh Pyle, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Laurent Sempéré, 1 Emmanuel Felsina.
Replacements: 16 Laurent Panis, 17 Zurabi Zhvania, 18 Paul Alo Emile, 19 Gerhard Mostert, 20 Jonathan Ross, 21 Clement Daguin, 22 Herman Meyer Bosman, 23 Waisea Vuidarvuwalu.
Treviso: 15 Simone Ragusi, 14 Andrea Pratichetti, 13 Enrico Bacchin, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Tommaso Iannone, 10 Jayden Hayward, 9 Christopher Smylie, 8 Abraham Jurgens Steyn 7 Alessandro Zanni, 6 Marco Barbini, 5 Tom Palmer, 4 Marco Lazzaroni, 3 Salesi Manu, 2 Roberto Santamaria, 1 Alberto de Marchi.
Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Matteo Zanusso, 18 Rupert Harden, 19 Filo Paulo, 20 Marco Fuser, 21 Robert Barbieri, 22 Samuel Christie, 23 James Ambrosini.
Date: Saturday, December 19
Venue: Stade Jean Bouin
Kick-off: 16:15 local (15:15 GMT)
Referee: Greg Garner (England)
Assistant Referees: Dean Richards (England), Kevin Stewart (England)
TMO: David Sainsbury (England)