During each Top 14 match, L’Indépendant offers its heartwarming moments and critical analysis. After the victory against Toulon at Aimé-Giral (36-20), let’s look back at the performance of the blood and gold team.
We liked
Efficiency
USAP found the killer instinct on Saturday against Toulon (36-20), entering the opposition’s 22-meter area six times and scoring 36 points with five tries. A remarkable statistic as the Catalans capitalized on Toulon’s mistakes, scoring two opportunistic tries following errors in their opponent’s camp. Not to mention the lethal turnover by Théo Forner (80+1).
Defensive solidarity
Efficiency in attack often comes from a strong defense. USAP spent 61% of the match defending and valiantly held off Toulon, forcing turnovers and defending their try line (47th, 50th). The six turnovers won are evidence of their collective defensive effort.
Yato-Hicks, the driving force for USAP
Peceli Yato and Max Hicks stood out against Toulon, with Yato scoring a try and making the most ball carries, while Hicks dominated in defensive plays, disrupting Toulon’s rhythm and winning crucial turnovers.
We didn’t like
Lineout struggles
USAP faced difficulties in the lineout, failing to secure possession in key moments. The team was penalized four times, hindering their dominance. Despite their overall control, the penalties marred their performance.
Second half start
USAP almost repeated last week’s scenario against Lyon, facing a difficult second half against Toulon. After a strong first half, they struggled as Toulon scored two tries and closed the gap. However, this time, the team showed resilience to secure the win.
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