Five days before a “match of the muerte” in Toulon, review of the USAP workforce which returns from a week off.
New match at loggerheads straight ahead! On the shores of the Mediterranean this weekend (kick-off Saturday February 19, 2022 at 5 p.m.), USAP will come up against one of the current candidates for direct maintenance for the elite of French rugby: Toulon. For now, the USAP (12e in the standings) is closely followed by his future red and black adversary (13e) and is separated from him by only two points (29 for the USAP, against 27 for the RCT). Suffice to say that the winner to come will automatically take the margin on the other.
While the Toulon club is stringing together matches (it has two left to play which have been postponed due to the Covid-19 crisis, in Montpellier and against La Rochelle) and is going through a sporting crisis (disappointment against Castres, announced departure of leaders …), it has a little redone the icing by beating the leader Bordeaux-Bègles (21-18) in a late match of the 13e day of Top 14. At the same time after its victory against Toulouse (36-13), the USAP returns from a week of vacation. State of blood and gold.
Physical for the recovery
A real week of rest is what the USAP players benefited from after winning the Toulouse ogre almost two weeks ago. On paper. Because in reality, proof of total involvement and mobilization, and of an exacerbated awareness of the heavy task to be fulfilled which is maintenance, most of them got back to work with running from last weekend. The coaches had left as the only instruction to talk. It was important for everyone to slow down and disconnect after eleven weeks of competition in the Top 14 and the Challenge Cup. “On the other hand, the week resumed with a lot of physicality and skills”explains USAP head coach Patrick Arlettaz, who put a high intensity back into Monday’s training.
For this return to the championship, the dynamic of the victory against the defending champion, Toulouse, is still in the heads. But in moderation. The potential of Toulon, beast currently injured, “remain superior to oursin the opinion of the Catalan technician. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: we only focus on ourselves, not on what’s in front of us. Either way, it serves us…” And focused on itself, the USAP will have to be all the more so as deprived of Lucas Bachelier (cervicals), Sadek Deghmache (Achilles tendon) and Alivereti Duguivalu (hamstrings), it will not be able to count for that match on his center Afusipa Taumoepeau victim of a sprained knee. Melvyn Jaminet for his part, mobilized with the France team for the Six Nations Tournament, is resting at home before the match against Scotland (Saturday February 26 at 3:15 p.m.).
A new extension in sight?
While in mid-February the USAP has not yet announced a recruit, it is continuing discussions with the players it would like to keep in the workforce with a view to its maintenance in the Top 14 or a descent into Pro D2.
According to information from The Independent, the future of the young hooker Lucas Velarte (23 years, 1.85 m, 108 kg) would be in debate. And in a rather favorable way. He could see his contract extended for several years. Because, on the other hand, the young man from the training center is pursuing a university degree: he is trained in management at the IAE in Perpignan.
Since the start of 2022, three players have already returned to blood and gold: Shahn Eru (2024), Tristan Labouteley (2024) and Seilala Lam (2023). They are thirteen in all.
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