The Catalans completed their first European bloc with a defeat this Sunday against Connacht (18-31), without having done anything wrong. A much more positive dynamic than other years, mixed with returns to the USAP squad, which quickly moved to the Top 14 by resuming training this Monday morning.
No time to procrastinate, or ask too many questions. This is the advantage of the high level, and the charm of these six-day weeks, after playing on a Sunday. This scenario rarely arises at the USAP, which is used to going from one Saturday to the next. There, she has a day less with, in addition, a trip to Paris to fit into her shortened week.
Proof that the Catalans quickly “switched” to the Top 14, this confession from David Marty, head coach of the USAP, at a press conference after the defeat against the Irish Connacht (18-31), this Sunday: “We are in a delicate position after the defeat of Toulon (13-22 at Aimé-Giral). We have some pspoken today.” So it's clear. The blood and gold returned home with the alarm already locked to prepare for the trip to the Stade Français this Monday. No rest. “We have three very tough matches coming up (Paris, this Saturday at 4:30 p.m., La Rochelle, Sunday December 29 at 6 p.m., and Lyon, Saturday January 4 at 4:30 p.m.). We we have a short week, then we have the holidays in the middle to prepare for La Rochelle. It's going to be a solid sequence. Everyone will have to be ready to take on three enormous challenges. I hope that will be the case“Marty argued.
Returns
And the Catalan group can prepare since this morning with feedback. And not least because, after returning to training last week, following three months of injury (pectoral muscle operation), Bruce Devaux could apply for the trip to Paris. Just like Giorgi Beria, who was delicate with his thigh. Others were able to take a breather during this European truce. Ignacio Ruiz, Tristan Labouteley, Joaquín Oviedo, Tom Ecochard, Jerónimo de la Fuente and Tavite Veredamu were rested for two weeks. Pietro Ceccarelli and Louis Dupichot only one. Others were managed to regain rhythm this Sunday, against Connacht. We think of Tommaso Allan, who came into play at the opening, and Adrien Warion, starting in 5.
Fundamental returns to return to victory in the Top 14. And ride a certain more positive dynamic in the Challenge Cup. The USAP was able to export itself against the South African Cheetahs, and compete physically against the Irish from Connacht, while finding fresh executives. “We favored a classic weekend rather than a classic start. We preferred to make changes to Monday and Tuesday, rather than Thursday”expose David Marty.
Paris has left a few feathers
This had no influence on the schedule, but Paris did not have this freshness that the Challenge Cup brought. Because Stade Français played the Champions Cup to the fullest and, after losing the two second lines Pierre-Henri Azagoh and Baptiste Pesenti, suspended since their red card two weeks ago against Munster, Sekou Macalou was also excluded this weekend, against Saracens (17-28 defeat). The third row was guilty of a bad tackle on the English scrum-half. Add to this, the injury to left pillar Clément Castets and Paris will receive the USAP with notable absentees.
We will still have to wait to find out if this European break happened under good auspices for the blood and gold, because we must confirm in the Top 14. But between the accounting situation in the Challenge Cup, the performances are much more successful than in past seasons. and the return of players mixed with the freshness of executives, the USAP put itself in working order to find color in the Top 14. Paris was certainly in the back of my mind for two weeks. Now things get serious again.
