To avoid a play-off, USAP, 13th, must win against UBB this Sunday (9:05 p.m.), and take into account the result of Brive, 12th. By gritting his teeth. Except that Christophe Urios’ team is aiming for an improved victory against the Catalans to win a direct semi-final. With a valiant heart, nothing is impossible, as they say.
It’s strange, don’t you think? Before receiving the Union Bordeaux Bègles (2e72 points), around USAP (13e, 39 points), any noise. The adrenaline of high-stakes matches is there. But at the same time, as if to ward off fate, as if not to make the fall any heavier, the objective of maintaining direct opposition to a team from the top three in the Top 14 championship is evoked, more or less from the end of the lips, but does not trumpet. Just in case, in case of defeat or several variables in favor of 12e in the classification, Brive, it is necessary to re-enlist next week during a dam.
From now on, USAP has two chances. Two chances to stay. The first one that presents itself, less in life and death than the one that could succeed it, should not be overused. “The best way to do that is not to think about the second right now.says USAP head coach Patrick Arlettaz. We had the whole year to think that it could end in an access final. »
Two chances for an additional achievement. If he doesn’t arrive this Sunday, he will arrive the following Sunday.
The game should be “irreproachable in the commitment, in the quality, in the ability to use the strength of the public without it paralyzing us or it excites us to the point of stupidity”, believes the blood and gold coach whose workforce is in unfavorable waivers. The Bordelais, current second, closely followed by Castres who moves to Pau, hope, and do not hide, to be able to qualify directly in the semi-finals thanks to a bonus victory in Perpignan. “The fact that we have already carried out impossible missions”against La Rochelle, Racing 92, Toulouse, Toulon, and striking matches against Montpellier or Castres, “It allows us to believe in it and gives us more energy. Necessarily. » And attempt a feat. One more. Or the right one. “We gave ourselves the chance, by the legitimacy that we imposed on ourselves all year long, to have two matches to achieve an additional feat. If he doesn’t arrive this Sunday, he will arrive the following Sunday. »
Especially if the distance duel is won by Brive who barely comes out of the water in the relegation zone. And moves to the Stade Français (11e, 50 points), who has nothing to gain in this game. If not the honor of ending his long complicated season on a good note and saying goodbye to Nayacalevu, Maestri, Burban, Waisea, some of the eleven players on the start. “I’m sure Paris will do everything to win, but I’m sure Brive has hopes of beating them too”reacts Patrick Arlettaz to the declaration of the Parisian coach Gonzalo Quesada who assures that his team will do the job against the Corréziens, but that the USAP must do the same against the UBB. “If Brive wins the Stade Français, I will not incriminate the Stade Français, that’s how it is. I hope that we are in a sport that defends values of fairness and solidarityunderlines the boss of the Catalan staff. It is up to us, the players in the game, to set an example for the public, who are also educated in these values of rugby. So if Stade Français thinks it’s a game like any other, they’re wrong. Sometimes it leaves traces even when you have nothing to play. And Pau with Castres the same! Even if it doesn’t concern us…”
What may interest the USAP a little more is the Pro D2 final between Bayonne and Mont-de-Marsan which is being played a few hours before (5.45 p.m.), one of the potential opponents in the event of a match. accession in seven days: “If we ever have to play again, we will have to go to the best in Pro D2 and win. It’s something we know here. That doesn’t mean we’ll win. But we know. » And a savvy USAP team is worth two. We will have time to talk about it again. Or not. You see. It’s strange isn’t it?
–
