By Harvey Allen
The fullback’s brace made the difference against a strong Cardiff side, with six tries ran in against the Welsh visitors.
Plenty of forward pressure saw Stade Francais denied two tries, but going to the wide channel allowed Mathis Ibo to run down the overlap and break the deadlock in the 16th minute. Cardiff got their first with a phase that went across the width of the pitch, Iwan Stephens waiting on the left wing to dive over the try-line. They hit the front as Matty Young, who set up the first, scored on his professional debut, with some quick hands out wide putting the fullback in with the score.
Stade Francais scored almost instantly after the break, a deadly line from Tanginoa Halaifonua couldn’t be stopped, as the hosts took the lead: with Louis Foursans-Bourdette’s kick. Ibo got his second of the match, as Stade got their second of the half.
The fullback finished off a set of phases close to the line, as the ball went out wide. With a penalty close to the tryline, Thibaut Motassi took a quick tap to break the line, offloading to Juan Martin Scelzo to secure Stade’s bonus point. Foursans-Bourdette finished off a dangerous counter-attack, as Cardiff’s up and under found itself in the hands of Lester Étien, who ran the majority of the way, before finding the fly-half in space to score.
Charles Laloi finished off an incredible show of skill between himself and Setareki Turagacoke, weaving in and out, passing in between all the defenders Cardiff could throw at them, to grab Stade Francais’ sixth score to see out the game. Cardiff got a consolation try back, Javan Sebastian with a strong push over the line.
Stade go second in the group, only on points difference to the rampant Ulster performance last night, and will travel to play the Toyota Cheetahs in Amsterdam next week. Cardiff will have to bounce back against an impressive Ulster side at Cardiff Arms Park.
Stade Francais:
TRIES: 6 (Ibo 16’, 49’, Halaifonua 41’, Scelzo 59’, Foursans-Bourdette 63’, Laloi 72’)
CONVERSIONS: 4 (Foursans-Bourdette 41’, 60’, 64’, 73’)
PENALTIES: 0
DROP GOALS: 0
YELLOW CARDS: 0
RED CARDS: 0
15. Mathis Ibo 14. Charles Laloi 13. Joe Marchant 12. Julien Delbouis 11. Lester Etien 10. Louis Foursans-Bourdette 9. Paul Abadie 1. Sergo Abramishvili 2. Giacomo Nicotera 3. Braxton Asi 4. Paul Gabrillagues (Captain) 5. Pierre-Henri Azagoh 6. Tanginoa Halaifonua 7. Ryan Chapuis 8. Yoan Tanga
Replacements
16. Alvaro Garcia Albo 17. Jack Iscaro 18. Moses Alo-Emile 19. Juan Martin Scelzo 20. Thibaut Motassi 21. Noah Nene 22. Joe Jonas 23. Setareki Turagacoke
Cardiff Rugby:
TRIES: 3 (Stephens 23’, Young 33’, Sebastian 75’)
CONVERSIONS: 1 (Wilde 75’)
PENALTIES: 0
DROP GOALS: 0
YELLOW CARDS: 0
RED CARDS: 0
15. Matty Young 14. Mason Grady 13. Cornel Smit 12. Steffan Emanuel 11. Iwan Stephens 10. Ioan Lloyd 9. Ellis Bevan 1. Rhys Barratt 2. Evan Lloyd 3. Sam Wainwright 4. Josh McNally 5. Rory Thornton 6. James Botham 7. Taine Basham 8. Alun Lawrence (Captain)
Replacements
16. Dafydd Hughes 17. Ioan Emanuel 18. Javan Sebastian 19. George Nott 20. Dan Thomas 21. Ieuan Davies 22. Harri Wilde 23. Elijah Evans
2026 Six Nations Hopefuls:
Yoan Tanga
The big number eight made himself known to the Cardiff defence, with some huge and powerful carries causing problems in the red-zone. Three caps to the 29-year-old’s name, Tanga hasn’t features for Les Bleus since their Summer Nations Series defeat to Scotland in 2023. A regular fixture in La Rochelle’s Champions Cup-winning sides, the back-rower may have recaptured the form to reclaim a spot in Fabian Galthié’s squad.
Mathis Ibo
Only 20 years old, in just his fourth appearance for Stade Francais, and scoring multiple tries on the European stage. The utility back is an exciting prospect for the future of the French national team, with U20s experience in last season’s Six Nations. Whether Galthié would jump the gun introducing him to the squad, or wait until he had more first-team experience, we’re not sure. But the future of French rugby is safe with prospects like Ibo.
Giacomo Nicotera
Already the standout option for Italy’s number two shirt, Nicotera is going from strength to strength. His set-piece lead was a huge catalyst for plenty of Stade Francais’ pressure going forward, of which many were unlucky to not be converted. The current Italian revolution needs an important player like Nicotera in their spine if they want to progress to the next level in the Six Nations.
James Botham
Capped 18 times by Wales, Botham was emitted from Wales’ Autumn Nations squad this year. Having featured for them in the last two Six Nations campaigns, the flanker will be looking to make his way back into the hopeful Welsh squad and recapture their former glory. His presence around the breakdown will make him a defensive threat against any side Wales face.
Taine Basham
Having moved across to Cardiff for this season, Basham will hope to turn his career around, after losing all 15 matches he featured in for the Dragons last season. The flanker last featured for Wales in the 2024 Six Nations, and only last started a match for the national team during the 2022 Six Nations. His powerful carries put Stade Francais under plenty of pressure, which could provide a valuable asset to Steve Tandy’s side.
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