Clos Total door on the Aimé-Giral side from Monday and until Friday. The USAP decided to prepare for the arrival of the Stade Français (Saturday at 4:30 p.m.) under the bubble set up by Franck Azéma. A decision assumed by the coach, when the Catalans will play part of their top 14 survival this Saturday.
The expression “far from the eyes, far from the heart” will not apply to the USAP this Saturday. The Catalan club is about to record a 17th consecutive closed windows. The craze remains intact even if the discontent swells behind the scenes in supporters. But they will all be there to push behind Jerónimo de la Fuente and his family.
Far from looks, but not far from the heart. Since Monday, the team has cut off from the world by decreeing a closed door. Only the first 15 minutes of the captain’s training on Friday will be open to the press. A meager consolation. This week, players have been instructed not to respond to journalists. As for President François Rivière, he also does not pick up. So, who to appease tensions, turn off the fire or rekindle the spark? That of the game, above all, which no longer shines in a team whose great strength remains its defense (6th in Top 14).
“We are opening all of our training since the start of the season, and on Monday, the team is visible on social networks. It is a lot of information given to the opponent“explains Franck Azéma, who assumes: “It is not played on this, but that is one of the elements we analyze.”
The game, yes … but not at any cost
USAP has been touched this season: repeated injuries, physical breakage, weakened workforce. A situation that she will analyze cold this summer, even if she is not alone in dealing with this type of torment. But the real black point is that during the winter and spring, the club could not adapt its game to the absence of its large driver that is Posolo Tuilagi, nor to that of Jacobus Van Tonder. The Catalans have tried to vary their approach, to go out at all frontal. But very often, they broke their teeth more than they surprised their opponents. And on Saturday, they will no longer have the choice: it will be necessary to offer this alternation, this game capable of destabilizing a friable French stadium in defense (13th in the championship with 79 tests collected, against 57 for Sang et Or).
-In its 2024-2025 version, the USAP advances with a rugby in motion, often aesthetic, but cruelly ineffective: last attack on the Top 14 with only 31 tests (Montpellier 13th with 54 tries). Admittedly, it sweeps the terrain in the width, tries to energize the game. But too often, the actions are very accurate, the weak times are linked. And above all, it cannot create these gaps that make it possible to make the difference. A particularly visible observation outside, where the USAP has still not won this season. Only ray of sunshine: a draw in Vannes (20-20). When the team led by Lucas Velarte remains silent, the frustration rises, forcing to recover from the shots of Veredamu (4 tests), or to the inspirations of its factors X: Buliruarua, Duguivalu, Naqalevu.
I can tell what I want. What matters is what we will do on Saturday
The staff has been necessary for ten days to erase the frustrations of the heads. But this week out of radars could also be used to refine certain automation. “I do not do a closed door to reveal everything in the press. I can tell what I want. What matters is what we will do on Saturday, in front of a faithful audience, which awaits acts more than words”Launched Franck Azéma on Tuesday. Before sliding, with a bit of irony: “For once, I’m going to have the choice when I write my match sheet.” Guided choices, too, by the profile of the opponent.
On Saturday, the Catalans will have to be lucid. Their rugby is demanding, energy -consuming, mobilizing a large number of players in the construction phases. But the result does not follow. Too much effort for too few points. A frustrating spiral that only full and effective performance can reverse.
