Stade Français claimed a 25-20 victory against Montpellier, while there were also wins for Clermont, Racing, Toulouse, Bordeaux and La Rochelle in the French Top 14.
Stade, who narrowly avoided relegation at the end of last season, have had an excellent start to the new campaign under Heyneke Meyer. The Parisian side continued its good run of form with a crucial win over a Saffa-laden Montpellier to remain in second position on the log.
Flyhalf Morné Steyn was at his influential best for Stade, knocking over two penalties and two conversions for a crucial 10-point contribution.
A Steyn penalty followed by a converted try from wing Waisea Nayacalevu, who benefited from a searing break by ex-Bok scrumhalf Piet van Zyl, put the hosts 10-0 up. But Montpellier rallied to level the scores at 10-10 courtesy of flyhalf Aaron Cruden, who went over for a self-converted try and added a penalty.
But Stade would take a lead into the break after centre Gaël Fickou burst through on the stroke of half-time.
The second half was a tight affair, as Cruden and Steyn exchanged penalties. Then in the last 10 minutes, Montpellier went ahead for the first time when lock Kevin Kornath powered over the line for a converted effort. But Stade showed their resilient streak again to clinch the win.
Fickou broke the line to set up Macalou for the decisive try, with Steyn slotting the conversion for good measure.
In other results, log leaders Clermont notched up five tries to secure a crushing 41-6 win against Castres, Bok wing Cheslin Kolbe bagged one of five tries as Toulouse beat Perpignan 36-18, Racing hammered Pau 48-28, Bordeaux defeated Lyon 35-13, La Rochelle inflicted a 13-9 defeat on Toulon and Agen and Grenoble played out to a 9-9 draw.
Round 8 results:
Stade Français 25 Montpellier 20
Clermont 41 Castres 6
Perpignan 18 Toulouse 36
Racing 48 Pau 28
Bordeaux 35 Lyon 13
Toulon 9 La Rochelle 13
Agen 9 Grenoble 99
Photo: Alexandre Dimou/Getty Images