SOMETIMES the old game has a gloom about it that almost fades to black. Yesterday, rugby was coloured Parisian pink. Even the posts standing sentinel over this magnificent occasion were pink, the trademark of the wonderful, sometimes frustrating and never dull phenomenon that is Stade Français.

Sometimes they seem to be out there simply to parade their kit and their Parisian chic. Their jersey for this season bears the image of Blanche de Castille, done in Andy Warhol style. Blanche has never had her image carried so brilliantly by a rugby team. They played. My goodness, Stade actually stopped posing and they played.

Perhaps the most significant feature of this Heineken Cup match was that Llanelli resisted wonderfully well, managing to keep their hearts and defence focused even after they had been hit by the most brilliant burst of scoring at the start of the second half, which brought the French side 21 points in eight sensational minutes.

The word “great” is over-used in sport, but when you are discussing the kaleidoscope of talent that is Juan Martin Hernandez at fly-half and Sergio Parisse at No 8, the concept of greatness in others is almost devalued.

Hernandez had the ball on a piece of string, delivering it with his boot into areas to embarrass Llanelli, but passing, running and anticipating like the maestro he is. Parisse, the wonderful Italian, came within millimetres of a hat-trick of tries during the Parisian burst after the break.

These events were taking place only in Stade’s basic stadium, the Jean Bouin. When next they play in the Heineken Cup it will be in front of 80,000 at the Stade de France against Harlequins.

Granted, Stade did dip for periods, but when they came out after the break they had clearly decided not to bother with such distractions as the experimental laws and not to bother taking the ball through the phases.

They simply won quick possession before Noel Oelschig and Hernandez at half-back set the team moving by the simple practice of passing the ball well ahead of the receiver to draw him on to it.

And all the way down the line, by running hard and inwards on a slight angle, and by passing the ball in front, Stade found that they could unlock a defence as good as that of the Scarlets. It was marvellous, and the perfect accompaniment to a mild, sunny afternoon.

The first half did contain periods of general hoofing that resembled Australian rules football. But with Hernandez on one side and the enterprising Stephen Jones on the other, we were bound to see something far more exciting as the skills of both men illuminated the contest from the start.

Llanelli were fortunate to be trailing only by 9-8 at half-time, because Stade beat a path down their left wing with such persistent effect that with a little luck and with less resolution in a splendid Scarlets defence, Stade could have scored at least two tries.

The Scarlets staged a lone breakout after 15 minutes to score the try that had been begging at the other end. Lionel Beauxis tried a drop goal that missed, but too many Stade players had been craning their necks to follow the flight, instead of lining up for any Scarlets counter-attack. They paid the penalty as Morgan Stoddart countered, making miles down the left touchline before Mark Jones, one of the most delightful runners and most deadly finishers in the game, beat Beauxis in the corner and scored. It took three Beauxis penalties to give Stade their one-point lead at the break.

Now came the treat on the treat. Stade’s body language when they returned to the field was bristling, and suddenly their pace was devastating. In the 44th minute they scored their first try when they moved the ball left with pace and rapid passing, and so after only one phase and one recycle, Hernandez, Stephane Glass and Beauxis made a foot of space for Julien Saubade to score down the left. Clinical and beautiful, and they were off and speeding.

Soon after that, Hernandez conjured up the middle, the ball was driven on accurately around the fringes and Parisse batted his way over to score. And only three minutes after that, Parisse came again, again after Stade’s backs had ran hard and straight. The irrepressible Dimitri Szarzewski took the ball up the fringes and Parisse erupted out of the depths of a willing ruck and stretched over to score.

Beauxis kicked all three conversions, 21 points in eight minutes, and for Llanelli, devastation. To their credit, and with David Lyons marshalling some resistance, they managed a late try on the counter, with Rob Higgitt making the score for Ceiron Thomas. But Stade roused themselves for the final gallop, Beauxis charging down a kick and loping 50 metres. Heady rugby, and the knowledge that Stade are just as likely next weekend to be smugly rubbish could not diminish the sense of wonder.

Star man: Juan Martin Hernandez (Stade)

Referee: P Allen (Scotland)

Attendance: 9,750

Scorers:

Stade Francais: Tries: Saubade 45, Parisse 49, 52. Cons: Beauxis (4) Pens: Beauxis (3)

Scarlets: Tries: M Jones 18, C Thomas 74. Cons: S Jones. Pens: S Jones.

STADE FRANCAIS: L Beauxis; J Arias, S Glas (R Tchale Watchou 74min), B Liebenberg (M Bastareaud 63min), J Saubade; J Hernandez, N Oelschig; R Roncero (D Camara 71min), D Szarzewski (M Blin 68min), D Attoub (S Marconnet 55min), A Marchois, S Taylor, M Bergamasco, S Parisse (capt), P Rabadan

SCARLETS: M Stoddart; D Daniel, R King, G Evans, M Jones; S Jones (C Thomas 66min), M Roberts (S Martens 52min); I Thomas (J Edwards 52min), M Rees (K Owens 68), K Meeuws, D Day, S MacLeod, S Easterby (capt), D Lyons, G Thomas