It was the match not to lose, especially for the BO in his garden in Aguilera, especially after the good impression that the Basques had left a week ago in Bordeaux by leaving with the defensive bonus.
The stake was heavy but the game and the intentions very present, on each side.
Even if there are still eleven days before the final outcome, the USAP has dealt a blow to its host of the day, with an undeniable psychological ascendancy.
His efficiency after returning from the locker room with two tries signed one by Duguivalu (52nd), served at the foot by Tedder, and the other by Tedder in person, author of a decisive interception (58th), marked the Biarrots who were ahead at the break (13-8, 40th).
Duguivalu, already, had launched this shock of fear by a quick try (5th), but the failures at the foot of Jaminet did not allow the men of Patrick Arlettaz to make the hole.
Quite the opposite of the Basques who took advantage of the visiting indiscipline to return quietly to the game thanks to the boot of Perraux, before the Argentinian Cubelli did not score a scrum half try at the level of a ruck (13-5 , 29th).
The usapiste scrum then took matters into their own hands to reverse the trend, thanks to these two tests marked by Duguivalu and Tedder just before the hour mark (22-13, 58th).
The BO then relied on the penalty to catch up, but errors and haste reduced this choice to nothing.
Until the incoming Barnabé Couilloud, also a trickster, brings back hope (20-22, 68th) while his team played 14 against 13.
The end of the match smacked of pain.
Breathable!
The Basques pushed for a penalty which fell, Herron passed it (23-22, 74th) and Aguilera exploded.
But this joy was of very short duration because, on the next dismissal, Mahu scratched the winning ball.
And this time, Jaminet did not tremble (25-23, 76th).
© 2022 AFP