After a week and a half off, three players returned from injury and strengthened the Catalan squad. Just like New Zealander Max Hicks, who arrived last Sunday.
After the improved victory against Vannes on Saturday November 2 (32-13), the USAP players were offered a few additional days in addition to the obligatory week off. The Catalans therefore returned to the Sports Park this Wednesday, November 13 for a gradual recovery with, on the program, indoor cardio. Some suffered, but the cleaning up did good and got everyone back on track.
Because, this Thursday, the group returned to the field for specific workshops on individual technique. In preparation for the match at Stade Toulousain, which is USAP's next meeting in the Top 14, Saturday November 23 at 4:30 p.m.
L'INDEPENDANT – Nicolas Parent
Hicks, Roelofse, Duguivalu and Crossdale on foot
This return to the green rectangle also rhymed with good news. Already, the presence of Max Hicks. The New Zealand third row, who arrived this Sunday in Perpignan, took his first steps with his new teammates. Injured in the ankle on August 31 with his team Tasman Mako, he was stopped for several weeks, which finally allowed him to regenerate. Fully recovered, he should apply for the trip to Toulouse.
L'INDEPENDANT – Nicolas Parent
Which should also be the case for right pillar Nemo Roelofse, center Alivereti Duguivalu and winger Ali Crossdale. These three players trained normally this Thursday, and they could be joined by other players by next week.
Because we must remember that the left pillar Bruce Devaux (pectoral), the second lines Marvin Orie (shoulder/cervicals), Mathieu Tanguy (ankle) and Posolo Tuilagi (tibia fibula), the third lines Patrick Sobela (thigh) and Jacobus van Tonder (knee), fly-half Jake McIntyre (pectoral), and wingers Lucas Dubois (fibula), Théo Forner (knee) and Jefferson-Lee Joseph (ischio) are still in the infirmary. When center Apisai Naqalevu still has two suspension matches to serve.
L'INDEPENDANT – Nicolas Parent
In addition to these absent players, we must also add the internationals. The Argentinians Joaquín Oviedo and Ignacio Ruiz (who play in Ireland, Friday at 9:10 p.m.), the Italians Tommaso Allan and Pietro Ceccarelli, the Georgian Gela Aprasidze (who face each other in Genoa, Sunday at 2:40 p.m.), as well as Giorgi Beria, who was called up with the XV of France, was not present in Perpignan this Thursday.
And, apart from Beria who is expected and Aprasidze, the other four should not be there at Ernest-Wallon next Saturday. This means that, as for several matches, USAP could show up with an entire starting XV unavailable. But, this time, she will undoubtedly have an opponent who has the same problem, with 13 internationals and several injured.
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