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'At one point, we both had 12 men... this league is nuts': Zack Henry
By Chris Jones
After more than eight years immersed in French rugby, Zack Henry is still amazed by the scenarios the game throws at him. For the first time in a career that has taken him through the lower leagues to the Top 14, the outside-half found himself helping guide Stade Francais to a vital victory over Bayonne in a game that saw both teams reduced to 12 men last weekend.
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A remarkable seven yellow cards – four for Stade – saw players leaving the pitch with such regularity during the second half, it was hard to keep up with the procession. “It was crazy,” said Henry, whose 16 points from the boot were critical in the 31-27 win that helped move Stade further away from the relegation zone.
“At one point, we both had 12 men and they were all for different offences and it wasn’t like a big fight that caused the cards. I don’t think I have played when my team had gone down to 12, and definitely not in one where the opposition also had 12.
“The reason I don’t remember exactly when we both had 12 is probably because I was running about trying to cover as much of the pitch as possible. The atmosphere was incredible in the stadium and it was a spectacle for the fans. Even in the stands, people couldn’t believe what was happening.
“There is a perception that in France that the stands are full when you win and empty when you are losing, but this year we have had pretty full stands. I don’t go online and I assume bad things have been written about us during the season, but we have felt the support. When we get off the team bus, they are there with the flares and still screaming. They are showing passion and fight with us.
“I am pleased with my kicking and my percentage has been good this season, and I am confident in my strike and with my years in professional rugby I don’t really change my routine.”
When Henry first started his French travels, he played for Rouen in Fédérale 1 before joining Nevers in ProD2 then spent a year at Leicester Tigers in the Gallagher Premiership before a return to France with Pau. In those early days, Brighton-born Henry, 30, was in a small group of English players plying their trade across the Channel.
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Now, Henry finds himself chatting on the pitch after matches with a growing band of high-profile English players. He plays alongside Joe Marchant, the ex-Harlequins centre, at Stade and after the Bayonne game, there was time to catch up with Manu Tuilagi, the England centre, and Alex Moon, who moved from Northampton Saints.
Henry added: “I was one of the early ones to come over to France and have spent 8 or 9 years here. When there was an English player on the pitch in those early years, it was a bit of a surprise.
“At the moment, every week there is a chance to catch up, and when we played Pau, I spent time with Joe Simmonds and Dan Robson. When we played La Rochelle, I chatted with Jack Nowell and when we take on Montpellier at the weekend. They have Billy Vunipola and Sam Simmonds. At Toulon, I met with Lewis Ludlam and Dave Ribbans.
“It’s cool and great to have the English over here because French rugby has given me my whole career and suited me perfectly. What I love is that everyone who has come over is really enjoying themselves and the French experience has been incredible for me.
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“Mako Vunipola is at Vannes and they are a club I played against when I was with Nevers and it was always one of the games that stuck in my memory. They used to parachute the match ball into the ground and I told my Stade team mates that when there is a goal kick the stadium goes absolutely silent and you can hear a pin drop. People asked if it put me off and you wouldn’t know there were 10,000-15,000 people in the stands.”
Stade are currently 11th in the Top 14, one place above Racing 92 whom they beat at home in the first Paris derby earlier in the season. The return fixture in on April 26 with bragging rights at stake for the fans.
“The Top 14 is unforgiving and the margins are so narrow and it is a crazy league and there is drama left, right and centre with so many different styles of rugby,” explained Henry. “I get such a buzz and you don’t have time to feel sorry for yourself if you lose.”
Owen Farrell has just returned to the Racing team after a lengthy injury-enforced lay-off, and like Stade, their form has led to significant changes off the pitch with Stuart Lancaster, the former England head coach, replaced.
Top 14
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Toulouse
19
13
5
1
65
2
Bordeaux
19
14
5
0
64
3
Toulon
19
13
6
0
62
4
Bayonne
19
11
8
0
48
5
Lyon
19
9
8
2
44
6
Castres
19
9
8
2
44
7
Pau
19
9
10
0
42
8
Stade Rochelais
19
8
10
1
40
9
Clermont
19
8
11
0
40
10
Montpellier
19
8
11
0
39
11
Stade Francais
19
8
11
0
36
12
Racing 92
19
7
11
1
35
13
Perpignan
19
6
12
1
30
14
Vannes
19
6
13
0
28
This has also been a difficult season for Stade with key coaches departing and Paul Gustard, the former England assistant coach, moving up from his defence role to take charge of the coaching unit.
Now, just as it appears Stade are enjoying a much-needed period of stability, comes the news that Gustard is wanted by Leicester to replace the departing Michael Cheika. French newspaper L’Equipe has claimed an agreement between Gustard and Leicester has been reached, but the Premiership club has yet to contact the Paris outfit, and there is doubt Tigers have the necessary funds to buy out the last year of his contract.
For Henry and the rest of the Stade squad, this is just another background noise that they have collectively agreed to shut out and focus on steadily regaining lost ground in the toughest club league in the world.
Henry has enjoyed working with Gustard, and explained: “Guzzie was interim head coach when I arrived at the club while the other coaches were with France at the World Cup. Now, Guzzie is top dog again, and I have only good words to say about him. He is very clear about how he wants us to play and it has been a bit of a messy season with the changes. He has brought some stability, and it shows on the pitch in the last four or five games getting some wins.
“This league is nuts, and anyone can beat anybody, and we know who we are and how we want to play.”
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