On the verge of picking up an offensive bonus point, USAP (13th, 39 points) won against Brive (27-10) in a crucial match on their way to maintaining direct in the Top 14. given the right to believe it a little more by returning to three points behind their direct competitor (12th, 42 points) in the standings.
Will the maintenance dam escape the USAP? History does not say it yet. But the chapter written against Brive this Saturday will bring the most breathtaking suspense by the end of the regular phase of Top 14. Indeed, by granting themselves a victory against the Corréziens (27-10) in an Aimé-Giral sold out for the first time this season, USAP (13e39 points) gave herself the right to dream a little harder in the 12e place currently occupied by the Coujous. Now the blood and gold are on the heels of the latter by three slim lengths in advance (42 points). Two days before the end of the regular season, relegation to Pro D2 is not on the agenda for either USAP or Brive. Unlike Biarritz Olympique who got stuck there after their defeat against Castres (13-48 defeat).
The doubling of Piula Fa’asalele
USAP therefore put an end to a series of three consecutive defeats (Pau, Montpellier, La Rochelle) and had the luxury of coming out of their game against Brive frustrated as the offensive bonus stretched their arms for 25 minutes. However, from the outset, the Brive team, boosted by nearly 500 supporters who made the trip, set the tone by opening the scoring with their first ball thanks to a parade of their three-quarters and the Setariki Tuicuvu try (0-7, 4e). The Catalan reaction was not long in coming. If the defensive curtains of the Catalans were abused, their first foray into the opposing five meters remained in vain, their slag penalized and their touch stammered, the glimmer came from Seilala Lam. The hooker, on a breakthrough achieved with all his momentum, was at the origin of the first Catalan test planted with anger by captain Mathieu Acebes (7-7, 14e). From there, the Catalan defense tightened the screw. Like a powerful Genesis Mamea Lemalu and a formidable scratcher Tristan Labouteley, who won balls. The scoreboard continued to witness a perfect tie (10-10, 27e) thanks to the boot of Stuart Olding and Melvyn Jaminet, before the mischievous Piula Fa’asalele stretches its full length in the promised land (17-10, 30e) to take the lead at halftime. Especially since the Coujous striker, Stuart Olding, missed two penalties to breathe life into his team.
So, as soon as they returned from the locker room, the Catalans were quick to start breaking. And Piula Fa’asalele again (24-10, 47e), came to conclude, with a try, the huge catch of the Catalan ball of a 50/22 found by Melvyn Jaminet intractable against the poles (5/5). But no one knew that at the 51e, the final score (27-10) was sealed. USAP did not take advantage of its numerical superiority after the yellow card against Setareki Bituniyata for a delayed tackle on Melvyn Jaminet (55e). It was then that a choppy match took shape, with ammunition lost in touch by the USAP. Brive believed in the upheaval with a try by So’otala Fa’aso’o (66e), finally refused by the referee Romain Poite judging that he had not been flattened and saved in extremis by the usapist forwards including in particular Lucas Bachelier, who later, will sting a touch to the Corréziens. This Catalan stubbornness will not switch in its favor in arbitration decisions and therefore close to the promised land. What give a funny impression at the final whistle. That of the bitterness of not having won the offensive bonus point which could have changed the course of the end of the season on the calculators. Admittedly, the USAP maintains the pressure on the Brive, but the band of Saïd Hirèche remains ahead compared to the two confrontations of the season (victory of Brive 36-15 in the first leg). At the same time, the USAP also maintains the hope of avoiding a roadblock. “We are still alive”, hammered the staff and the players at the end of the game. Nothing is done, nothing is said. It’s true. It remains for the USAP to have more than one trick up its sleeve, before the trip to Castres (weekend of May 21/22) and the reception of Bordeaux-Bègles (weekend of June 4/5), to gain survival.
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