During each Top 14 match, L’Indépendant offers its favorites and favorites. After the record defeat at Bordeaux-Bègles (66-12), look back at the performance of the blood and gold.
We liked
The returns of Deghmache and Tetrashvili
This is really the only satisfaction of this tasteless match. Seeing Sadek Deghmache and Giorgi Tetrashvili playing again in the Top 14 seven months later can only be good news. Especially since they did not make a mark in this insipid match. The left pillar showed all his qualities in scrum as soon as he came into play (47th minute). He stabilized her when she was often turned around in the first period. He also made it possible, with Akato Fakatika on the right, to win three penalties in the second half, leading to the yellow card of Matis Perchaud (77th). A further advantage when we know that a place was to be taken behind Giorgi Beria. Deghmache took advantage of a period when USAP held the ball more to express itself. Close to the ball, he did not disappoint. And even created the gap for the second try of the USAP of Louis Dupichot (60th) by feigning the pass and taking the space to rush into the 22 meters of the UBB. Notable returns that can bring to Franck Azéma’s group.
We didn’t like
Naqalevu’s red card
To speak of a turning point would be presumptuous, as USAP was already far behind in the score (31-0). But to speak of a definitive blow to the head is undoubtedly more truthful. Because the Catalans seemed to have returned from the locker room with the intention of showing off their pride. But they were quickly calmed by the logical expulsion of Apisai Naqalevu after a high tackle, with head-to-head contact, on Nicolas Depoortère (45th). Nothing was good for the USAP. Already struggling, this ended up dooming her. Spaces were freed up, the UBB took even more advantage of them.
Tests taken in counterattack
“It’s frustrating because we said that we shouldn’t give them easy balls because they are very good in these situations”. Franck Azéma regretted this scenario after the match. “We sometimes forced the game a little”he added. And for good reason, the USAP gave the UBB easy ammunition to express itself. Bordeaux’s fast three-quarters and high-speed play like to feed on turnovers. And, this Saturday, six attempts were given to the UBB to express itself fully. The first comes from a USAP restart with a well-covered overhand kick. Behind, Lesgourgues quickly picks up the ball and finds the interval. The shift is made, USAP suffered, Tatafu scores (12th). The fourth and fifth attempts on the interceptions of Penaud and Jalibert are models of “forced play” who gave easy tries (34th and 40th). UBB’s sixth try, from Reybier (49th), comes after a scratch from a Bordeaux player in his camp. Behind, turnovers, sequence of passes after contact and try. Samu’s eighth try, on a restart from his in-goal by Damian Penaud, is still a counter-attack (63rd). Lucu’s quick play on a penalty against USAP, still in the UBB camp, was also given too easily, without opposition (70th).
The lost balloons
22. This is the number of balloons lost this Saturday by the USAP in Chaban-Delmas. It’s way too much. Especially with only 45% ball possession over the entire match, and 38% in the first half. Among these lost balls, the Catalan playmaker, Antoine Aucagne, lost 5. Symptomatic of a team which struggled to deploy the game. And, inevitably, the sanctions were rapid, as explained above with the six tries taken into account. counterattack. However, the UBB was nevertheless greatly penalized. 16 penalties whistled. More opportunities for the USAP. But which led to nothing with the ball losses. Especially when we add the 3 lost keys.
