This Saturday evening, USAP conceded its first defeat of the season to Aimé-Giral. Facing a determined Toulon team, the Catalans were dominated (13-22).
The day had already started badly for the USAP. Earlier in the afternoon, Vannes won at La Rochelle (14-23), when Montpellier won a defensive bonus on the Bordeaux pitch (9-6). And all these bad signs reached Aimé-Giral. This Saturday evening, USAP conceded its first defeat of the season in its cathedral. The second, in real life, at home, after that against Montpellier in Béziers (7-26).
But this one hurts even more. Because it comes just before the European Cup break, because it completes this block of two matches with a zero point. And above all because, as written a little above, the competitors won. Which ones? Those of maintenance. Because after 11 days, the Catalans only have 4 small units in the last place in the championship held by Vannes. And big deadlines will still present themselves before them in the coming days: two trips to Paris (December 21) and Lyon (January 4), for a big reception from La Rochelle (December 29) in the middle.
Toulon mastered, the USAP fell into it
They will have time to analyze this match and watch it again, again and again, on video. To see what went wrong, to see why they failed, this season, to win this shock against Toulon.
Because, as expected, this confrontation between the USAP and the RCT gave way to a lot of fighting. It hit hard throughout the meeting. Anyway, you shouldn't expect much else. Because this is often the case between these two formations. Toulon expected it and was prepared for it. It was seen. And the Varois got the better of the Catalans during the first half. Because the RCT had possession and occupation over the first 40 minutes, and even the score (6-12). Enzo Hervé came to punish USAP with a drop (6th) and three penalties (19th, 29th, 40th + 1). Without necessarily dominating, and constantly cutting the rhythm. Which obviously bothered the blood and gold. Because they wanted to add rhythm. Unfortunately, this was never possible. The Toulonnais kept control of what they wanted to do: break the rhythm and send shots into the middle of the field. It must be said that it worked well. Because Louis Dupichot and Antoine Aucagne were swept aside by the kicks of Enzo Hervé, Marius Domon and Dan Biggar.
Then the RCT relied on one of its strengths to kill the match quite early: the carried ball, which led to Dany Priso's try (6-19, 52nd). Five minutes later, alone like a grown-up, Joaquín Oviedo thought he would rekindle the flame by scoring the only Catalan try (13-22, 56th), but it was not enough. The inaccuracies were too numerous to really hope to obtain testing opportunities. He lacked the energy under the hood to break the Toulon lock. Players who are still sorely missed and who are not ready to return. But the USAP knows it, it has to deal with that.
She undoubtedly took a blow to the back of the head last night with this second defeat of the season at home. Still in the soft underbelly of the championship before this day, the Catalan club must unfortunately start seriously looking in the rearview mirror again. Between repeated injuries, last minute withdrawals, elements that it cannot control, the USAP ended up seeing this rope – already very tense – give way. At the worst time.
