French champions Stade Francais got the defence of their Top 14 title off to a winning start recording a 23-17 home victory over last season's defeated finalists Clermont.

The Stade de France, packed with fans just one week after hosting the World Cup final between South Africa and England, watched as the home side ran over three tries as well as kicking two penalties, while Clermont stayed within reach with four penalties and a try of their own.

Brock James opened the scoring for Clermont after just six minutes landing a penalty from 40m before Italian centre Mirco Bergamasco retaliated for Stade 10 minutes later forcing his way over the line.

Brian Liebenberg extended the home side's in the 38th minute with Stade's second try of the afternoon before James added a second penalty on the stroke of half time to leave Clermont trailing only 10-6 at the interval.

James and Liebenberg traded scores after the re-start with the Clermont flyhalf reducing the deficit to just the one point with a penalty before seeing his good work undone when his opposite number landed a drop goal.

Seemingly spurred on by almost going behind Stade stepped up a level and re-established their dominance through a Julien Saubade try after Elvis Vermeulen had skipped through the defence to create the overlap.

Although Clermont struck back with a third penalty from James and a Sam Broomhall penalty, Stade held on denying the visitors a losing bonus point when Lionel Beauxis kicked a 76th minute penalty.

Elsewhere Phil Christophers scored the only try to give Castres a 25-12 win over Auch in a bad-tempered match that saw a player from either side sent to the sin bin.

Five Romain Teulet penalties either side of the try as well as a drop goal from Cameron McIntyre was enough to see Castres take all four points as Top 14 newboys Auch could only reply with three penalties and a drop goal from the boot of Frederic Couzier.

Montauban's second season in the Top 14 got off to a cagey start as they were defeated 10-8 by Bourgoin at the Stade Pierre Rajon.

The visitors took an early eight point lead thanks to a try from Jean Emmanuel Cassin in the 13th minute and a Sebastien Fauque penalty seven minutes later but could do nothing as first Benjamin Boyet struck back with a penalty in the 22nd minute and a converted penaltry try mid-way through the second half.

Bayonne got their season underway with a thrilling, narrow 22-21 victory away to Brive thanks in large part to the boot of Richard Douthe.

Douthe kicked five penalties as well as converting Craig Gower's 71st minute try while Brive could only reply with five penalties, two from Benjamin Dambielle and three from Maxime Petitjean, and two drop goals - both from Petitjean.

Dimitri Yachvilli and Mathieu Maillard kicked 27 of the 30 points scored as Biarritz were held to a 15-15 draw at home by Albi.

Yachvilli kicked four first half penalties for Biarritz before Julien Peyrelongue added a second half drop goal, while Maillard saw his four penalties a one drop goal sail over for Albi.

In the later fixture, fly-half François Trinh-Duc scored the only try of the game as Montpellier began their season with a 19-12 victory over Perpignan.

Cédric Rosalen and Mark McHugh traded penalties before Trinh-Duc went over three minutes in to the second half to add to his 11th-minute drop-goal.

Pippa Davis / Eurosport