Top 14 Orange
Stade Francais send Toulon crashing out of Top 14 title race
ESPN Staff
June 5, 2015
Stade Francais
Stade Francais© NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP/Getty Images

The Top 14 will have a new champion this year after holders Toulon were sent crashing out by Stade Francais in Friday's semi-final.

Stade booked their place in the title-decider at the Stade de France next weekend with a 33-16 victory over the triple-European champions. Spurred on by the phenomenal Sergio Parisse, the Parisian recovered after going behind early to earn their first appearance in a Top 14 final in six years.

Toulon's opened the scoring via Drew Mitchell in the fourth minute, but Stade would eventually outscore them three tries to one, with Raphael Lakafia, Antoine Burban, and Julien Arias crossing for the victors and Morne Steyn adding 18 points with the boot.

The loss for Toulon means veteran forwards Carl Hayman, Ali Williams and Bakkies Botha have ended their glittering careers in defeat - all three will now retire.

Stade will now face either Toulouse or Clermont in Paris next weekend, with the second semi-final set to take place this Saturday.

© ESPN Staff

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