The Aimé-Giral effect. In its stadium for the first time this season, Perpignan played a full match against Clermont, achieving its first success of the year at the same time. The Catalans even managed to improve in the second half (33-3), thanks to Jefferson-Lee Joseph’s first try in the blood and gold colors.
This match was to be one of renewal for the USAP after three losses in as many days to start this new Top14. To do this, the Catalans finally found their pitch at Aimé-Giral after having “received” in Béziers while waiting for the work to be completed. This return home has awakened the Perpignans whose attack last season was a trademark. But it is in almost all sectors that USAP dominated the Jaunards de Clermont for a clear final score of 33-3. If the Perpignan side was still looking for marks, the fight was largely dominated, giving significant opportunities in ruck phases leading to 4 tries, more than during the first three days. The USAP found itself this Saturday, September 28 at the same time as Clermont was lost.
Tuilagi’s alleged big injury
The start of the match was necessarily Catalan due to the urgency of the situation and possession was for Tom Écochard’s team who were enjoying their 250th cap in the USAP jersey. However, the first banderilla remained a thunderous counterattack from the Auvergnats, very close to dampening local desires. We had to wait until the 11th minute to see points in this match marked by the wind. After a long period in the 22m of the ASM with a good job of fixing the forwards, the play went wide to the right for Antoine Aucagne’s try which he transformed himself. (11th, 7-0). The other highlight of the start of the match was the injury exit of Posolo Tuilagi, the Catalan wonder.
Also read:
Top 14 – Perpignan: Posolo Tuilagi seriously injured in his left leg against Clermont
Hit in the leg in a legal tackle, he left the field after long minutes of handling, raising fears of a fracture. After the astonishment of his teammates during the first moments, it was the mission to win the match that took over. As soon as play resumed, Apisai Naqalevu planted a second try to once again mark the presence of the Sang et Or in front of the Clermont try line (19th, 12-0). Clermont took many minutes to react and finally unlock its counter with Belleau’s penalty (28th, 12-3). It was only the kicking game which punctuated this end of the first period with two new penalties from the precious Aucagne (31st, 40th, 18-3).
Jaunards better returned but imprecise
The second act first showed the anger of Christophe Urios, the Clermont coach, in two aspects. All the substitutes came on after the restart and his flock showed more desire. Unfortunately, every action, every attempt was annihilated by an error, a loss of ball or costly indiscipline. Gaining confidence, USAP took further points through Aucagne, this time from its own camp with a monstrous 55m penalty (46th, 21-3). And it was shortly after the hour mark that the match completely changed. While the ASM pushed in front of the USAP 22m with a scrum to play, the attacking ball was stupidly lost. A long defensive kick from Dubois put Urdapilleta under pressure in his own 22m and Jefferson Lee Joseph took the opportunity to steal the ball and go for the try (63rd, 28-3). This rewarded the immense activity on his wing of the Olympic Champion and definitively protected his team to free Aimé-Giral.
The end of the match was even more one-sided and Montgaillard’s final try on some good work from the forwards further validated the offensive bonus (79th, 33-3). A deserved 5-point victory for the Catalans who also lost big with Tuilagi’s injury. We will know more in the coming hours. Clermont thwarted and will have a lot to review in training in the days to come, no doubt.
