This Sunday, against the Zebre (4:15 p.m.), USAP knows what it must do to qualify for the round of 16: it must win. Such a scenario would reopen the right to an international final phase 12 years after the last one. And, above all, it would once again allow the Catalan furia to relive rare thrills.
Remember. It was April 26, 2013. David Marty was still playing, Guilhem Guirado too. The latter had even scored. The Catalan wings were occupied by Adrien Planté and Farid Sid, James Hook providing the goal. On Aimé-Giral's pitch, a certain Jérôme Porical also played. But he wore a dark jersey, with numerous pink borders. Those of the Stade Français. One of the former heroes of the USAP a few years earlier was the executioner of the blood and gold that evening (22-25). With Paris, he eliminated USAP from the small European Cup in the semi-final. A beautiful epic. The last…
Since then, USAP has only known the fever of a Pro D2 final phase. A slight fever, but still. This Sunday, in Parma (4:15 p.m.), Franck Azéma and his family have the opportunity to create a new great story. The kind of story USAP loves. And may the people of blood and gold are eager to live again. How can we not believe that this furia is not made to experience intense, tense encounters, with the right to always dream bigger. “It’s still a match for a final phase, it’s obviously exciting! When you claim a round of 16, it makes you want to go further and see what can happen”thundered David Marty, the head coach, who said he remembers this elimination very well in 2013 against “Popeye” (Porical, Editor’s note).
A round of 16 at Aimé-Giral within reach
The USAP also knows the ins and outs of achieving its objective. Cardiff lost on Friday evening against Connacht (19-28). Lyon wandered around and took the offensive bonus this Saturday against the Cheetahs (68-21). In other words, the Catalans have all the cards in hand. They can only count on themselves to qualify. “It’s also interesting to have a clear objective before the match”confided Marty. There, against the Zebre, it is clear: win. With four or five points, USAP would move to third in its group and take 13th place in the general table, accumulating Challenge Cup qualifiers and Champions Cup qualifiers. Thirteenth…or eighth. Because a victory improved by 14 points in Parma would allow USAP to be among the two best third-placed teams and move ahead of the Scarlets on point average. Thus, the Catalans would move to the upper part of the table and would receive the eighth final.
-It won't be easy, but it's possible. And, once again, USAP knows what it must do. It's easier to look for extra soul and offer Aimé-Giral a European spring. The USAP has been making up the numbers in this competition for too long not to want to wet its jersey as it rarely does in Parma. But of course, before all the calculations in the world, you have to win. We would tend to get carried away. It’s the Catalan atmosphere that wants that. The return of the injured, the newfound confidence and the slightly more positive performances can only make us want to look higher. But it remains an away match. Against a wounded beast. Hurt by a backstage sale. Hurt by a series of five defeats. A beast, too, that can qualify. If Parma wins by at least 14 points, the Zebre will move ahead of USAP. The Catalans would then be eliminated. Everything will be decided in one match. The famous “cap” dear to Franck Azéma only lasts 80 minutes. One qualification, and, yes, USAP wouldn't be exactly the same. A qualification, and the blood and gold people will be able to rediscover the thrill in spring (April 4-5-6). Finally ! Aimé-Giral is just waiting for that.
France
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