Europe all Stade have left

Stade Francais captain Sergio Parisse vowed to go to war against Leicester Tigers in the European Champions Cup this weekend.

The French champions have suffered a disastrous domestic campaign in their Top 14 title defence and sit only one place above the relegation places with realistically no hope of making the end of season play-offs.

Yet in Europe they have been far more successful, coming through a tough group that included Leicester and Munster, both twice former winners of the competition in which Stade have twice been beaten finalists.

They finished second in the group but took one of the top three runners-up spots in the pool stages, allowing them to reach the quarter-finals.

But with their league season in disarray, this remains Stade's only hoping of salvaging a disastrous campaign, yet Parisse admits they will be underdogs at Welford Road in the Midlands on Sunday.

"Obviously (Stade are underdogs). Leicester are playing at home, they've a tough side with a lot of experience and a solid pack," said the Italy captain, who was voted the Top 14 player of the year last season.

"But we'll go there with no complex, with a lot of enthusiasm because it's our only knock-out phase.

"We'll go with all our strength, all our desire and we'll try to go to war over there and to finally play our game."
SourcE: AFP