USAP Suffer 63-26 Defeat to Pau in Top 14 Action
“Je ne sais pas quoi dire,” Enzo Forletta said after the match regarding the team’s collapse.
The USAP fell 63-26 to Pau in Top 14 action, conceding 42 points in the first half alone, lindependant.fr reported. The club conceded 40 points in a single half for the first time since May 18, 2019.
- Pau secured six tries within a 25-minute span during the first half, driven by technical errors from the visiting side.
- Young players like Diego Mascarenc, Martin Durand, and Posolo Tuilagi provided notable offensive efforts.
- The latest setback leaves the Catalan side struggling with defensive performance early in the season.
Despite the lopsided scoreline, young players brought energy to the pitch. Diego Mascarenc played 69 minutes at center, gaining 47 meters and maintaining a 100 percent tackle rate, lindependant.fr noted. Debutant Martin Durand added a try after the siren, while Posolo Tuilagi scored another during a 20-minute stint.
These bright spots emerged amid a difficult afternoon for the squad. The younger members showed resilience even as the match slipped away.
The match turned decisively in the opening forty minutes as Pau surged to a 42-5 lead. Laurent Labit pointed to the momentum gained by the hosts, stating that when an opponent is made to look euphoric, the final score becomes very heavy.
Technical errors fueled the home side’s counterattacks. Pau repeatedly launched offensive plays from deep within their own half.
Set-piece difficulties further hurt the visiting team’s chances. The squad managed an 81 percent success rate on throws, but critical losses in the first half led directly to opposition tries and turnovers.
The latest result compounds early-season struggles away from Stade Aimé-Giral. The club has now dropped three heavy matches on the road, leaving the defense under heavy pressure after conceding more than half of their total points across just three games.