CONOR O’SHEA EMERGED as the happier Irishman at Stade Jean Bouin last night as his Harlequins side defeated Stade Francais, and their fullback Peter Lydon.
‘Quins, inspired by England fullback Mike Brown and former All Blacks out-half Nick Evans, won 29-6 after an electric second-half display. Stade trailed 9-6 at the break, in their Amlin Cup quarter final, but tries from Brown and Tim Molenaar took the tie away from the French side.
Lydon, who regularly plays out-half, started in the Stade back three. He coped well under the high ball but was part of a backline that could not get much purchase out of a well drilled Harlequins side.
The Kilkenny native ceded the goal-kicking duties to South Africa’s Morné Steyn, who converted two first-half penalties. Stade were well in the tie under Brown, named Six Nations player of the tournament, powered over on the right wing. Lydon’s evening’s work came to an end after 54 minutes as he was called ashore for Adrea Cocagi. The 21-year-old’s leg tightened up at the break and he was taken off as a precaution.
O’Shea’s charges will take on Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens on Friday, 25 April. Both sides were in the Heineken Cup but eliminated after the pool stages.
