Top 14 – The notes of Perpignan – Vannes: Oviedo punchy, Lafage imprecise

Despite good resistance from Vannes, Perpignan won with the offensive bonus thanks in particular to its powerful Argentine number eight Joaquin Oviedo and its three-quarter center Eneriko Buliruarua who managed to find gaps in the Breton defense. On the Vannes side, opener Maxime Lafage was not having a great day behind a pack of forwards failing to conquer.

The Tops

The center of Usap shone throughout the game against Vannes. Untenable with the ball in hand, always looking for space, the Fijian was one of the great architects of success. After a failed attempt by Velarte following a devilish tumble, the Perpignan player was rewarded for his activity with an energetic attempt on a serve from his captain De la Fuente. A benchmark match with 6 defenders beaten to his credit.

The third center line was regularly active with the ball in hand as well as in defensive activity (8 tackles). The Argentinian worked tirelessly in the running game, offering the full and useful range in favor of Franck Azéma's men. Often used as a spearhead on multiple launches, Joaquín Oviedo generated a constant and varied lead for his team. Endowed with unparalleled power, the Argentinian came out to a standing ovation from his audience. A good omen for the Pumas before the fall tour.

The Flops

The conductor of Vannes narrowly missed in a match where his team had little ammunition to exploit, symbolized in particular by a pass for no one at the start of the second half. He was unable to find a solution to advance his team, whether in the hand game, but especially in the kick game, while his team, valiant in defense, would have deserved to breathe thanks to a better pressure game. He was replaced at 56^e minute by Thibault Debaes, before coming back into play in place of Francis Saili (73^e).

For his third start in the Top 14, the Vannes hooker failed to find his jumpers, particularly in the first act, quickly demonstrating a certain feverishness in his throws even if the responsibility for the balls lost in touch cannot be blamed. to his sole credit. He also missed a lot of tackles (six missed, seven successful), which contrasts with his interesting offensive activity (three broken tackles).