Top 14 Orange
Stade Francais crowned Top 14 champions as Clermont suffer heartbreak again
ESPN Staff
June 13, 2015
Stade Francais celebrate winning the Top 14 title
Stade Francais celebrate winning the Top 14 title© AP Photo/Jacques Brinon

Stade Francais clinched their first Top 14 title in eight years and ensured Clermont's miserable record in French top-flight finals continued with a 12-6 victory at the Stade de France.

Sunday's showpiece final in Paris was settled with the boot, as South Africa fly-half Morne Steyn kicked Stade Francais to glory and condemned Clermont to an 11th defeat in 12 French finals.

Stade Francais defeated both Racing Metro and triple European champions Toulon to ensure a new name would be on the Bouclier de Brennus this season, while Clermont saw off Toulouse last weekend to set up a repeat of the 2007 final.

The Parisian club took advantage of Clermont's early indiscipline as Morne kicked Stade Francais into a 6-0 lead with 21 minutes on the clock. Morgan Parra wasted two kicks to level the scores, before Steyn kicked his third penalty of the match to give Stade Francais a 9-0 advantage.

However, after taking over kicking duties for Clermont, Camille Lopez split the posts to reduce the lead to six points at the break after Jonathan Danty was penalised during the ruck.

Another good maul from Clermont forced a penalty shortly after the break and allowed replacement Brock James to kick his side within three points, but the Australian failed to level the scores when given the chance shortly after.

Despite their late efforts, Clermont, who had already suffered defeat to Toulon in the European Champions Cup final earlier this season, could not find a breakthrough as Steyn sealed victory for Stade Francais with a late penalty.

© ESPN Staff

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