At the opening of Boxing Day, the reception of Castres closes the first leg of the Top 14 championship version 2021-2022 for the USAP (kick off at 6 p.m. this Sunday, December 26, 2021)
. Performing against this cador before two important trips to Paris and Biarritz would allow the blood and gold to celebrate Christmas after the hour.
To complete the loop of the first leg of the championship, a big Top 14 client who regularly trusts the first six places in the standings comes to Aimé-Giral this Sunday: Castres Olympique. The appetizer is sizeable on the occasion of the resumption of competition for the USAP after a week of relaxation without a Challenge Cup match and before moving to the Parisian troublemaker who came to gain a point in Perpignan. (22-23) and the rival Biarritz.
A showdown“The observation is that with any coach and no matter which team is aligned, the Castres team is a difficult team”, summarizes the coach of the forwards of the USAP Perry Freshwater by alluding to the new era started with the manager of the CO, Pierre-Henry Broncan. This team, he even qualifies as “abrasive” since it does not let go and provokes in all sectors.“From the first impacts, it will be necessary to show that we are present”
, defends hooker Lucas Velarte. Faced with the strong CO, strength and aggressiveness will quickly be measured. The showdown could even be scathing so much at the slightest drop in intensity, a bad turn would be played on the Catalans. No need to deceive ourselves, all the teams come armed to Perpignan to make a move and take points. This is why the contribution of Seilala Lam, Piula Fa’asalele, Damien Chouly, Lucas Bachelier, Genesis Mamea Lemalu, Xavier Chiocci, Matthieu Ugena and others would be even more capital.The strong activity of the Tarnais was demonstrated no later than last week in the European Cup. Despite the defeat (19-13), their rough tackles, their tough defense and the fight delivered allowed former Catalans Quentin Walcker and Adrea Cocagi and their squad to disrupt the experienced Munster and steal a defensive bonus point from him. Seven days earlier, Castres Olympique could even have won on the wire among the reigning English champions, the Harlequins (18-20 defeat). By spinning! When in parallel the USAP won at home during the first day of the Challenge Cup against Newport (22-16) by tipping the game in its favor at the 50 e minute of play thanks to the entry of scrum half Tom Ecochard and a few boosted Hopes. Will the break imposed on the Catalans last weekend be worth its weight in gold, in the management of organizations, even if Castres brings back its executives?“We don’t think too much about that, we are focused on our performance , tranche Perry Freshwater. Maybe for you journalists. “
The waltz a thousand times before Hooker Lucas Velarte says to himself“Very happy with the return from injury of Lala (Seilala Lam) and saddened by the departure of Mike (Tadjer)”. “Lala is our titular hooker , he recalls good player while Victor Montgaillard of the Espoirs also knocks on the door.
For me, Lala is even more than that! The guys from the islands are very quiet, but of course they want to be the best. It’s exceptional to work with guys like that. ” As for the arrival of the left pillar Xavier Chiocci?
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-Initially scheduled for 4 p.m., the match was rescheduled for 6 p.m. following the postponements of three matches due to the presence of positive Covid-19 cases in several teams.
