Two days from the end, the Perpignanais still have the possibility of remaining in the Top 14. But the Catalan group knows the arduous task, and is also preparing to play this dreaded access match.
Uncertain as it is, this Top 14 forces you to have your eyes glued everywhere. Whether it is for the qualification in the final phase as for the maintenance, nothing is played. And Perpignan belongs to this group of the undecided. The Usapists look in two opposite directions, to the point of causing a slight squint. The Catalans can indeed see their end of the season take two different turns. If they have been certain for three weeks not to finish in the red lantern – with the official relegation of Biarritz after its defeat in Aguiléra against Castres (13-48) – their maintenance in the Top 14 is not yet assured. They can also finish 13th, and therefore compete in the play-off with the unfortunate finalist of Pro D2 – access match which has never smiled on the elite club since its establishment in 2018 -, or avoid this match by stealing 12th place from Brive.
Repeat before the barrage?
Never easy to play its survival with so many uncertainties – especially in view of the recruitment of the following season -, even if the Harlequins prefer to draw the positive from this context. “A few years ago, we would have had a foot in Pro D2 rather than in the Top 14. We know that this barrage is a possibility. But we should not see it as something bad, rather as an opportunity”, positive Alan Brazo, 27th USAP man tonight. For the flanker who grew up in Castres, notably playing football at the USCF until he was 18, coming to the Tarn represents the perfect rehearsal for the access match. “Playing a big game at CO is the best possible preparation for this possible play-off. We will play against a team that plays big, and supported by an omnipresent public.” In short, the outline of this access match, which will be played on June 12. At the end of the defeat against Montpellier at Aimé-Giral (13-23), the manager of Perpignan Patrick Arlettaz, declaring that playing this barrage “is not dirty and should not be a taboo”, had discharged from a certain weight his team.
No pressure
Especially since with the defeat of Brive against Toulouse last night (8-26), the Catalans are not forced to impose themselves on Pierre-Fabre to maintain themselves, since they will be able to mathematically pass in front of the Corréziens during the match. he last day in a fortnight – USAP receives UBB, when CAB goes to Stade Français. A victory in the Tarn would nevertheless allow the Sang et Or to overtake the Coujous, and therefore take their destiny into their own hands. Which is currently not the case. Not necessarily a problem for them. “On the contrary, it takes a lot of pressure off us, believes Alan Brazo. It’s more Brive who has it. We made the championship that we did, there are meetings that we would have liked or should have won But let’s not look too far back and focus on what we have left.”
Do not put your eyes too much on the mirror yes, but a little all the same. Because the USAP showed all its abilities during the previous games delivered in the championship, notably remaining close to the score in La Rochelle for almost an hour (16-32 in the end), or clearly dominating the CAB at the end of April (27-10 ). “There was room to take the offensive bonus against Brive at the end of the match. All of this made us want to believe in it even more, to work. And despite the cut that was not easy to tackle, this victory allowed us to stay focus on our maintenance”, is satisfied the Tarnais by adoption. Perpignan has 160 minutes to get it.
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