Still deprived of sixteen elements, the USAP staff allows itself to test things and players. This Saturday (4:30 p.m.) on the pitch at Stade Toulousain, he will put forward new options.
First start in the league for Akato Fakatika
28 league matches, 0 starts. We specify the championship, because Akato Fakatika has already started five times in the Challenge Cup. But this Saturday (4:30 p.m.) at Ernest-Wallon, the pillar will start a Top 14 match for the first time. He who played his first professional match on September 27, 2020 during a trip to Carcassonne (23-26 victory ).
If she finally arrives only four years later, her tenure is not trivial. The versatile 23-year-old pillar (1.80 m, 123 kg) has a card to show off. With the absences of Bruce Devaux (injured) and Pietro Ceccarelli (selection), the poor physical condition of Nemo Roelofse who is returning from injury, or the choice to leave Giorgi Beria to rest after a week with the French XV, the door is closed. is, this time, well and truly open for Akato Fakatika.
And this opportunity, the Futunian must seize it. Because he is under contract until 2026. Because if he does not want to remain an eternal hope, it is in this type of meeting that he must shine. And because with everyone returning to 100% in the coming weeks, the hand may not be outstretched all the time. In any case, he has the confidence of his staff. His entry into Bordeaux more than a month ago, where he recovered two penalties against Matis Perchaud, allowed him to score points. The former U20 international, who has powerful qualities, which allows him to win his one-on-one matches, will now have to respond to the challenge given against Rodrigue Neti (2 selection).
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Top 14: traveling to Toulouse, USAP first wants to concentrate on it before thinking about an exploit
James Entrance Hall
Finally ! Long awaited, James Hall's first start is this weekend. Arriving this summer still recovering after rupturing the cruciate ligaments in his left knee on January 28 against… Toulouse, the South African scrum-half will finally have the opportunity to express himself. Lined up a month ago on the Racing 92 pitch, he played 34 minutes and offered some interesting sequences. At Ernest-Wallon, the 28-year-old clearly needs to regain pace and playing time to really establish himself in this team. Because, between Tom Ecochard (97), Sadek Deghmache (71) and Gela Aprasidze (52), he is the one who has played the most Top 14 matches (101). He has already played in a Top 14 play-off (2021) and a Champions Cup round of 16 (2022) with Stade Français, where he was the starting number 9 for two seasons. Well-established at this level, then.
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Top 14: James Hall in 9, first for Max Hicks with the USAP, Romain Ntamack well started… The compositions for Toulouse-Perpignan
Recruited at the last moment, at the turn of an opportunity to seize, James Hall has everything to win in Perpignan. He will have to show himself anyway since he only signed for one season. And this match in Toulouse should allow him to fully launch his Catalan adventure. Note that this will be his first tenure since January 28, 2023. It was with Paris at… Aimé-Giral (31-24 for USAP).
Jefferson-Lee Joseph in the back of the field
With several returns from injuries, the USAP back line has something to salivate over. A James Hall-Antoine Aucagne hinge to launch the wild beasts that are Jerónimo de la Fuente and Alivereti Duguivalu into the center of the field, or to spread out on the wings of Ali Crossdale and Tavite Veredamu, whose GPS panics with each acceleration, that makes you want. To see Jefferson-Lee Joseph lined up at the back, too. Rather used on the right wing since his arrival in Perpignan, the Guadeloupean is placed in 15. And his main mission will not be to use his kick. But rather to bring lots and lots of speed into the third curtain. And be an additional solution to put pressure on Antoine Aucagne.
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Top 14: facing a Toulouse without internationals, is this the year or never for USAP at Ernest-Wallon?
“There are gazelles at the bottom of the field”smiles captain Jerónimo de la Fuente, whose staff preferred to do without Louis Dupichot and Jean-Pascal Barraque, despite the absences of Jake McIntyre and Tommaso Allan. Even on the bench, it was the young Gabin Kretchmann (18 years old) who was lined up, he who missed his first match sheet for a few seconds three weeks ago against Vannes. This time it should be the right one. Center Job Poulet, with many hopes placed in him, will also appear on the match sheet, having spent two months in the infirmary due to a ruptured tendon in his finger.
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