Reinvigorated since a success against the Toulouse leader at the end of January, the USAP Espoirs can aim for a fourth success in a row, and thus move up the hierarchy. But they will have to be wary of Charentais with long teeth.
We can say what we want. That the Agenais had come “naked”, devoid of nineteen starting elements from the start of the season… but never mind. Very few of the kind to do in the feeling, the blood and gold were happy to crush finely chopped Lot-et-Garonnais, two weeks ago, “a casa”. A scathing 57 to 7 for the Catalans who found their best plumage, similar to past years, and which above all sounded like an alarm signal for the competition: it will be necessary to count on Samuel Hostalrich and his companions to come and play the spoilsports in the Top 4, and get involved in a final sprint which promises to be very exciting! Far from the grayness of the start of the 2022/2023 financial year, a bit missed… “We knew it was going to be a difficult season, with a lot of young people coming in, confided general manager Anthony Cabaj. But we are finally beginning to be rewarded for the work we do. We are competitors, and we will do everything to seek qualification from now on, even if we know that it will not be easy”. And we can only prove him right, given the copious menu that now awaits the Roussillonnais! Because if the leaders of Racing and other Rochelais are still on the program, it is by looking down that the threat looks serious… “We must not trust appearances”, as the famous saying goes. Well, that would fit perfectly in the skin of a Soyaux-Angoulême which is fighting for its survival, but which has never seemed so tough. For what ? It’s quite simple. Since the new year, the Angoumoisins have signed an attractive 3/4, pinning Aviron Bayonnais (20-16), Agen (22-18), and the MHR (23-13) in the Hérault. Just that ! USAP is notified. It’s a tough duel that awaits him in Charente. But she has proven it for several weeks now: she knows how to beef up her game…
