After a three-week break, USAP launches its final sprint in Toulon on Saturday April 15 at 5 p.m. Anything but fun. The Varois, in full swing, have just qualified for the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup by atomizing Lyon (48-23).
The countdown has begun. Five days from the end of the Top 14, USAP is in the fight to maintain, thirteenth with nine points ahead of the last, Brive, two points behind Pau and five on the heels of Castrais. Of the five matches to be played, Perpignan will face two European semi-finalists (Toulon on Saturday April 15 and Toulouse at Aimé-Giral on May 13); two adversaries who are struggling to grab the Top 6, Racing 92 (7e) and Lyons (4e), before finishing the championship in Castres, another formation in fight for the maintenance. “It’s a very tough course., acknowledges manager Patrick Arlettaz. Our final phase to us, with perhaps at the end a real final, that of the Access match (1). There is no more calculation to be had, all the points will be good to take…”
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The final sprint starts with a very perilous trip to Toulon (Saturday April 15, 5 p.m.), which has just qualified for the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup, after having suffocated the LOU (48-23). The Toulonnais did not have a break, it is not the rhythm that is likely to fail them. While the USAP followed the final stages of the European Cups in front of the television, the players of Franck Azéma and Pierre Mignoni crossed the South African pitfall of the Cheetahs in the round of 16 (36-21), before dismissing the Lyonais in the quarter (48-23, seven tries to two). “It’s not the right timing to face the Toulonnaissighs Arlettaz. They have found their cruising speed. But we are going to Mayol to fight.”
Sans Chiocci, McIntyre or De La Fuente
The three-week break will have had the beneficial effect of regenerating bodies and minds. It will not have been enough to allow Jéronimo De La Fuente and Jake McIntyre to regain the fullness of their physical means. They will not be on the scoresheet in Toulon, replaced by Eddie Sawailau, who was on the field during the three successes acquired at the expense of Brive, Pau and Bayonne, and Tristan Tedder, who will leave the back position to find the opening. Another package, that of the left pillar Xavier Chiocci, hit in the knee yesterday during training against the Espoirs. The ex-Toulonnais will not be at Mayol on Saturday. There is also concern for New Zealand third line Brad Shields, who is feeling discomfort in his knee.
These absences will be compensated by the returns of Piula Faasalele, Mike Tadjer, Lucas Bachelier or captain Mathieu Acebes, who has served his nine-week suspension. “The three weeks of rest were managed as well as possibleconcludes Arlettaz. We would have preferred to play again immediately after the defeat against Montpellier (22-23), because dwelling on a three-week defeat is a bit complicated, physically and mentally. But the group went back to work with pleasure. Last Tuesday, a barbecue at Notre-Dame-de-Consolation made it possible to have a good time and to consolidate the bonds of this group which lives well together.
It will take solidarity to challenge Toulonnais currently on a cloud. In the wake of a Baptiste Serin who has returned to international level, the RCT attack line can count on its two Fijian tightrope walkers Jiuta Wainiqolo, ex-star of 7, author of 15 tries since the start of the season, including four in the last two weekends, the unpredictable Waisea Nayacalevu or the Samoan center Duncan Paia’aua, 8 tries this season. A strike force from the Pacific which intends to make Mayol roar with happiness for the arrival of the USAP.
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