{"id":148499,"date":"2025-06-08T22:33:35","date_gmt":"2025-06-08T22:33:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/top-14-grenoble-must-follow-suit-perpignan-expertly-readied-for-their-challenge-against-toulouse\/"},"modified":"2025-06-08T22:33:37","modified_gmt":"2025-06-08T22:33:37","slug":"top-14-grenoble-must-follow-suit-perpignan-expertly-readied-for-their-challenge-against-toulouse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/top-14-grenoble-must-follow-suit-perpignan-expertly-readied-for-their-challenge-against-toulouse\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 14: “Grenoble must follow suit” \u2013 Perpignan expertly readied for their challenge against Toulouse."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

USAP’s Journey: The Path to Survival<\/h2>\n

Despite their \u00a0victory\u00a0 against Toulouse, the Perpignanais must once again pass through the \u00a0access match\u00a0 to ensure their survival. This weekend, the \u00a0Sang et Or\u00a0 will travel to Grenoble, armed not just with tactics but also with players in top form, aiming to finish the season on a high note.<\/p>\n

Preparing for a crucial match for survival in the elite league might not get any worse. Just as they did in \u00a02023\u00a0 and \u00a02024\u00a0, the \u00a0Union Sportive Arle\u0301sienne Perpignan (USAP)\u00a0 will have to navigate through the access match to maintain their position in \u00a0Top 14\u00a0. This past Saturday evening, the Catalans experienced a rollercoaster of emotions. \u201cIt was quite strange<\/em>,\u201d admitted captain \u00a0Jeronimo De La Fuente\u00a0 after their win against Toulouse. \u201cYou win the match, but you\u2019re still disappointed because it\u2019s not enough. We did our job, though.<\/em>\u201d His sentiments echoed the thoughts of manager \u00a0Franck Az\u00e9ma\u00a0, who remarked, \u201cThe contract was fulfilled on our side, and it was important to have no regrets.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Immediately after the match, the expressions on the players’ faces turned to disappointment as they learned of Stade Fran\u00e7ais’s victory over \u00a0Castres\u00a0. \u201cWe realized Paris had won during the last try scored by Toulouse after the whistle<\/em>,\u201d explained young hooker \u00a0Mathys Lotrian\u00a0, who scored twice against the reigning champions. \u201cOf course, you feel disappointed when you\u2019re told that you didn\u2019t secure your stay at the end of the regular phase.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Positive Aspects from the Match<\/h2>\n

On that Saturday evening, under the guidance of Az\u00e9ma, the USAP players certainly boosted their \u00a0confidence\u00a0. After a rough first half, the Perpignanais shined in the second, scoring a remarkable five tries against the defending champions. \u201cWe are happy with our performance<\/em>,\u201d Lotrian said. \u201cWe need to remember this and be proud of ourselves.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Indeed, the hooker has all the reasons to feel proud. The Catalans displayed a level of rugby that could easily overshadow their thirteenth place in the rankings. Following the match, \u00a0Cyril Baille\u00a0, captain of Stade Toulousain, praised their opponents, stating, \u201cPerpignan does not belong where they are. When I see the match they played, it\u2019s clear they are a strong team.<\/em>\u201d Notably, the \u00a0Sang et Or\u00a0 crossed the try-line six times, a first against the Stadistes this season \u2014 statistics that certainly inspire hope. \u201cAll week, we discussed how we needed to play to win against this team from Toulouse<\/em>,\u201d echoed De La Fuente. \u201cIf you play conservatively, it won\u2019t work.<\/em>\u201d This desire to play must carry into their next match against Grenoble: \u201cWe need to impose our game, take risks when opportunities arise… play well while maintaining our aggression in the right sense.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Leveraging Experience for Survival<\/h2>\n

While they could potentially overtake Stade Fran\u00e7ais, Az\u00e9ma and his staff were already looking towards \u00a0Pro D2\u00a0. The Catalan manager openly stated, \u201cWe didn\u2019t wait until the end of this Top 14 phase to prepare for it. This thirteenth place is the reality of our season, and we must accept it. One thing is certain: we still have a chance to stay in the top division.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

In the upcoming days, Az\u00e9ma can rely on players experienced in such crucial moments. \u201cThere\u2019s no point in succumbing to pressure<\/em>,\u201d noted De La Fuente. \u201cWhen you play for USAP, that pressure is almost always there. You walk around downtown, and there\u2019s always someone discussing the club and its results (laughs). It motivates you to fight on the field to stay in the top division.<\/em>\u201d Following his first match in front of supporters, Lotrian emphasized, \u201cWe\u2019ve done it once by winning in Grenoble; why shouldn\u2019t we do it again? We must keep working hard, and it will pay off.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Strong Players Ready for Battle<\/h2>\n

Now, the \u00a0Grenoblois\u00a0 have a week to prepare to face a towering challenge in \u00a0Posolo Tuilagi\u00a0. The Catalan lock was impressive against Toulouse and has regained his best form at the perfect time, having missed a significant amount of competition. \u201cSeveral players are stepping up their game<\/em>,\u201d Az\u00e9ma observed. \u201cIt\u2019s not about getting carried away, but we know our capabilities.<\/em>\u201d The likes of \u00a0Lucas Velarte\u00a0, \u00a0Alivereti Duguivalu\u00a0, and \u00a0Joaquin Oviedo\u00a0 will be critical on the pitch at Stade des Alpes. Next Saturday, the Sang et Or recognize they will face \u201ca very good team\u201d despite the repeated failures of the Is\u00e9rois in the Pro D2 final. On paper, form and experience seem to favor the Catalans, but they must remain cautious \u2014 as Grenoble knows all too well, surprises can happen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


\n
General News – 2<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

USAP’s Journey: The Path to Survival Despite their \u00a0victory\u00a0 against Toulouse, the Perpignanais must once again pass through the \u00a0access match\u00a0 to ensure their survival. This weekend, the \u00a0Sang et Or\u00a0 will travel to Grenoble, armed not just with tactics but also with players in top form, aiming to finish the season on a high […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":148500,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-148499","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/148499","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=148499"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/148499\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/148500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=148499"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=148499"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=148499"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}