Rugby: five good reasons to congratulate the SA XV's fourth place [+ résumé et classements]

1. The point: the SA XV is playing in the big leagues

Fourth after 18 days with a record total of 48 points: the SA XV has never scored so high at this stage of the season. “You have to savor. It’s great,” appreciated the yet very measured Guillaume Laforgue after the meeting, before reminding us that everything remains fragile.

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Biarritz is the latest proof of this. In two weeks, the Basques went from serious candidates for the final stages to 12^e place, with only four points ahead of the Valence/Romans play-off (1).

Three consecutive defeats saw them fall from one end of the standings to the other. What the SA XV is not immune to in terms of its immediate program: trips to Brive (5^e) and Provence (3^e), interspersed with the reception of Colomiers (6^e).

In the meantime, what is taken is no longer to be taken. The red lantern Nice is now on 29 points with 12 matches remaining in the season. The VRDR (15^e) at 17 points.

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A mattress soft enough to continue to evolve with a liberated mind and to dream of beautiful things “without already seeing it,” said Karl Sorin on Friday. On the same wavelength as Adrien Bau: “We will have to reset things and plan for the block to come. With this state of mind, I think we can achieve great things in the end. »

2. The player: Proult, King Arthur

At the heart of a team which was the man of the match, we could have highlighted George Tilsley's hat-trick which brought his total to eight tries. Or the double from the bulldozer Alexander Masibaka. But we will focus instead on the performance of the sharp Arthur Proult, whose every catch of the ball made Chanzy jump on Friday.

Arthur Proult's stats are monstrous, like these 121 meters gained.

His stats from Friday are monstrous (see infographic), like these 121 meters gained which overshadowed Noah Néné. Called to Marcoussis among the 42 Blues to prepare for the Tournament, the promising Dacquois center had a bad evening against the pair of SA XV centers.

Arriving from Vannes on tiptoe and lacking playing time, the “TNT” center is exploding in Charente. Until Fabien Galthié has watched the match…

3. The stat: 12 defenders beaten for Masibaka

Don't annoy Alexander Masibaka. Deprived of a test by Mr. Praderie at the 64^e minute, the number 8 of the SA Like these 12 defenders beaten in 80 minutes. A huge stat which allows him to bring his total to 57 and put him in second place in the Pro D2 rankings.

Last Thursday at a press conference, Alexandre Ruiz made no secret of the fact that there was little chance of seeing the Australian, on loan for the second year from Montpellier, in the purple jersey next season. His progress since his arrival in Charente should open the doors to the Top 14 wide for him. In the meantime, let's enjoy the show!

4. The sentence: “It’s the penultimate budget playing against a top team”

Dax coach Jeff Dubois paid tribute to the SA Like almost everyone in this unpredictable championship. Starting with the Angoumoisins who also repeat it day after day.

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We will still remind the Landes manager that if the Dacquois present well on the 15th^e Pro D2 budget with €6.3 million, just ahead of Aurillac (€5.5 million), two weeks ago they spanked the “bourgeois” of Brive and their €17 million. And that the SA XV is not far ahead of the Landais, at the 13^e place with €7 million (Rugbyrama sources at the start of the season).

5. The number: François Mey, 45^e roaring

Came into play at 52^e minute in place of George Tilsley, François Mey (almost) succeeded, for his first outing in the colors of the SA XV, to forget the absence of the New Zealander, despite having scored a hat-trick before his exit.

The Italian U20 international, who arrived on loan from Clermont at the beginning of January as a medical joker for Ledua Mau, is number 45^e player used this season. And his very promising debut punctuated by an offering on Masibaka's last try, comes at the right time to strengthen the rotation within a three-quarter line disrupted by serious injuries (Brosset, Mau, Lydon?) and injuries undergoing treatment (Lafon, Barrett, May).

Welcome sir Mey!

(1) Penalized by 5 points, the BO appealed its sanction.

Peter Lydon will have to have an MRI

Taken out on the stretcher in the second half against Dax on Friday, SA XV fullback Peter Lydon will have to wait until midweek to decide on his fate.
“The radio didn't give anything, we have to wait for the MRI on Tuesday and Wednesday to find out what's wrong with him, and if it's the Crusaders,” indicated Sunday morning the president of the SA XV Didier Pitcho, expectantly: “If his season is over we may have to take an additional joker.”
Peter Lydon arrived on loan from Dax in the fall to replace Rémi Brosset, whose season is already over. In four starts, he scored 18 points. “It really makes you laugh because he’s a great guy who immediately showed himself to be important,” grimaced backs coach Guillaume Laforgue on Friday evening.
Fortunately, the news is more reassuring for Jonny May (ankle) and George Tilsley, who also came out in the second half. “A priori nothing serious”, according to Didier Pitcho.