During each Top 14 match, L’Indépendant offers its favorites and favorites. After the character victory against Lyon at Aimé-Giral (29-26), this Saturday, look back at the performance of the blood and gold.
We liked
The return of Tommaso Allan in 10
Jake McIntyre injured, Antoine Aucagne still progressing, a new captain was needed as playmaker. This Saturday, against Lyon (29-26), Tommaso Allan was one. Injured in the knee during the third and fourth day, still in difficulty after the match against Pau at Aimé-Giral, the Italian was entitled to a weekend of rest during the trip to Bordeaux last week. And the choice to reintegrate him into the XV, at the opening, was judicious, allowing Antoine Aucagne to be freed from certain tasks. “Tommy has more responsibilities in 10, he knows more about the team’s game and he has seniority in that regard. Antoine still needs to work and be a little more behind in this full-back role , it allows him to gain experience.”explained David Marty, head coach of USAP, before the meeting. A profitable choice, as the 80 minutes of the Catalan opener were well made. The Italian was in such good shape that he took over responsibility for the goal, scoring 19 points against the poles, equaling his record with USAP in the Top 14 (at the Stade Français, last February).
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Top 14: to overcome Lyon, USAP was able to rely on a solid conquest
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Top 14 – “A success like that remains strong for the players”: after USAP’s victory against Lyon (29-26), find the post-match reactions
The final defensive sequence
When we talk about Tommaso Allan’s match, there is this final defensive action which helps to highlight it. Because with Louis Dupichot, they took down Davit Niniashvili. The ball didn’t come out. The USAP won this standoff. At that moment, she also came to the end of a defensive sequence of almost three minutes, preventing LOU from going for the winning try or the draw penalty. The Lyonnais restarted with a touch from their 22 meters. Frontal attacks well stopped by the Catalan defense, with aggressive climbs to anticipate certain skipped passes to the outside. Before stopping Semi Radradra then Niniashvili, therefore, after launching the game into touch. A long sequence which showed the rediscovered aggression of the Catalans this Saturday.
Also read:
Top 14 – “I prefer to have him next to me than in front of me”: between a striking Oviedo and a decisive Veredamu, the return of certain captains was decisive for the USAP
We didn’t like
A USAP not sufficiently killer
If the approximately 14,000 blood and gold in the stands sweated profusely until the final whistle, it is partly because the USAP did not know how to kill the match. Firstly, because it gave LOU the opportunity to come back to score with a new try on interception (Parisian, 46th). Then after the two yellow cards of Alfred Parisien and Semi Radradra (65th), the USAP took little advantage of this numerical superiority. First with the first missed touch of the match straight away. Behind, Lyon put the pressure back on and scored a penalty (22-26, 67th). So’otala Fa’aso’o still managed to score a try (69th), but a 7-3 at 15 against 13 is not much, and it could have been expensive. Especially when Ignacio Ruiz, in the 73rd minute, does not control the ball on a two against a very well played by his compatriot Jerónimo de la Fuente. That too could have been expensive.
Also read:
Top 14: severely beaten last weekend, USAP reacts as a team and takes on Lyon
The infirmary which is filling up
The Catalan infirmary has recorded two new arrivals since this Sunday morning. Winger Lucas Dubois, hit in a tackle on the leg by Hamza Kaabeche, was taken out on a stretcher just before half-time and suffered a fractured fibula. Unavailability is estimated between 6 and 8 weeks depending on the club. The second row Mathieu Tanguy, also, quickly left his teammates after coming on in the 51st minute of play. Five minutes later, he took his place on the bench. After the match, he was seen with a splint on his foot. The list of injured is therefore starting to fill up. On the back lines, only Jerónimo de la Fuente, Eneriko Buliruarua, Jean-Pascal Barraque, Tavite Veredamu and Louis Dupichot remain available. Doubt still reigns around Jefferson-Lee Joseph (ischio). The Hope players can’t help either. Job Poulet (finger), Nicola Bozzo (ankle), Setareki Toganiyadrava (heel) and Gabin Kretchmann (hand) are also out. A massacre.
