After two weeks of the European Cup, USAP returns to the Top 14 this Saturday (4:30 p.m.) with a big trip to Paris. A match with a current direct competitor for maintenance, and which will launch this block of three matches.
There are several turning points in a season. But the block of three matches which takes place against USAP during these end-of-year holidays promises to be decisive for the rest of this 2024-2025 financial year. By losing against Toulon at Aimé-Giral three weeks ago (13-22), the blood and gold put themselves in a bad position in the standings (11th with 19 points). They now only have 4 points ahead of Vannes, the red lantern. But above all they are only 1 small point from the barrage place held by Lyon.
Also, in the British ranking, USAP (12th) is at -5, just like Pau (13th) and Vannes (14th). Which means that, from the margin, it no longer has any. The program that is coming before it must make it possible to tip the scales back to the right side. Conversely, Perpignan could find themselves in last place on the evening of the 14th day, before the new European Cup break.
Also read:
Rugby – Challenge Cup: after having known how to exist in Europe, the USAP quickly switched to the Top 14 and its trip to the Stade Français
Find the seesaw
But these matches are doubly important. Because, to date, these are two trips to direct competitors for the USAP. In Paris (12th) this Saturday (4:30 p.m.), and in Lyon (13th) in two weeks (Saturday January 4, 2025 at 4:30 p.m.). Opponents, therefore, within the reach of Franck Azéma’s men. In any case, they will have to manage to export to exist in this Top 14. Last season, it was in Castres, on December 31, that everything changed. A 13-17 success which literally launched the USAP season. It was the 11th day. We are already playing the 12th. There is less urgency than at the same time last year, yes. But to avoid this new emergency situation, the Catalans must show themselves conquerors far from Aimé-Giral. While ensuring during the reception in La Rochelle (Sunday December 29 at 6 p.m.), who will come to collect the lost points.
The defeat in Bayonne on the first day (21-19) was a headache for a long time, perhaps more than the huge slap in the face in Bordeaux in October (66-12). Since then, USAP has not been able to bring home points from outside. The play fell badly in Castres (27-12 defeat), when a catastrophic start coupled with an avoidable mistake at the end of the match at Racing 92 cost too much (30-23 defeat). So, will the USAP succeed in gaining valuable points in its race, now underway, for maintenance? It has to be. Even if Posolo Tuilagi, Marvin Orie and Mathieu Tanguy will be missing in the second row, as will Jacobus van Tonder, Patrick Sobela and Alan Brazo in the third row, Jake McIntyre at fly-half or even Lucas Dubois on the wing.
Also read:
Top 14: “I didn’t want us to play in pink at Aimé-Giral!”, recalls Max Guazzini, the former president of Stade Français a few days before USAP’s trip to Paris
Clench teeth in second and third lines
And even if the club is still looking to strengthen itself with a medical joker, it faces numerous refusals, notably from Newcastle for Pedro Rubiolo, from Gloucester for Matías Alemanno, from Harlequins for Dino Lamb. Or even Stormers for one of his South African golgoths. The market is not simple and not very open, and as Franck Azéma has repeated several times, the USAP does not want “do for the sake of doing”. It is a long-term recruitment that is sought, not necessarily a player for a few months and who would not necessarily bring added value.
In the meantime, the workforce in the second and third lines is very small. For this block of three, Tristan Labouteley, Adrien Warion, Lucas Bachelier, Noé Della Schiava, Sootala Fa’aso’o, Max Hicks, Joaquín Oviedo and Lucas Velarte will decide between the 7 or 8 places on the match sheet for these positions . Even if Mathieu Tanguy, who relapsed in his foot, is hoped for for Lyon. As for several weeks, the USAP will therefore not be able to rely on all its strength. These are not the best conditions to advance in this big block, but the group will tighten up and try to show that, as usual, when faced with a wall, it can get back to the front.
