Top 14 Orange
Cheika bemoans Stade's complacency
ESPNscrum Staff
January 2, 2012
Stade Francais coach Michael Cheika, Leeds v Stade Francais, Amlin Challenge Cup, Headingley, Leeds, England, October 17, 2010
Michael Cheika was less than impressed with his side's attitude in their clash with Bordeaux © Getty Images
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Stade Francais boss Michael Cheika believes a smattering of arrogance was the reason for his side's 39-6 battering at Bordeaux-Bègles, their first defeat in nine games.

Cheika told Midi Olympique: "We received a lesson in humility. We didn't have the level of aggression necessary. We started the match well but when it started to turn against us, we didn't stay in it.

"Even when we were in the ascendancy, les Beglais dominated ruck time. In addition, we stopped ourselves from getting the ball out wide."

Toulouse fly-half Lionel Beauxis has insisted his injury problems are behind him and more days in a France jersey ahead of him, after scoring all of his side's points in their 30-15 win against Bayonne.

Beauxis sent new France coach Philippe Saint-Andre the best possible message ahead of next month's Six Nations with a haul of eight penalties and two drop goals, and he admitted the prospect of getting back in the France was driving him back into form.

"It will be necessary to continue like that," Beauxis told La Depeche. "It's true that the French team motivates me and gives me a buzz. We'll see how it goes.

"I wasn't saved from injury at the start of the season but I'm in the best possible shape now. In fact everything at the club that is done for me is to create the best possible conditions."

Meanwhile, Biarritz president Serge Blanco has urged his players to keep focus after their decisive 25-6 victory over Toulon on Saturday. The Basque side remain bottom of the Top 14 on 19 points, but are now only three points from neighbours Bayonne, in the relative safety of 12th place.

"Every step of the return matches will be very important for the club," Blanco told Sudouest. "We faced death against Toulon. We escaped. But we can't get carried away. There are 12 games to play, with the next step in Agen."

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