While ahead at half-time, the Section Paloise finally lost against the South African team. Eliminated from the Champions Cup by one point, it can still be overthrown in the Challenge.
One point. This is what the Section Paloise will have missed to get through the group stage of the Champions Cup. And for two small points, the French team lost (26-24) against the South Africans of the Pretoria Blue Bulls, formalizing its elimination from the Champions Cup.
Pau had, however, had a good first period against the South African franchise, and was even ahead at half-time (21-12), after scoring three tries. But the Pyrenees, who needed a victory to ensure their qualification, did not go the distance and conceded a try at the end of the match, synonymous with victory with an offensive bonus for the Pretoria team.
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The Paloise Section has cracked
Paul’s players, initially mistreated in the scrum, used penalties and carried balls to undermine their opponents and take the lead at the break (21-12) with three tries, including two from hooker Youri Delhommel, started at the last minute (10th, 40th) and one from the massive Jimi Maximin after a good advance from the young Quentin Valentino (33rd).
It was necessary to respond to the realism of the South Africans who had launched hostilities perfectly by snatching a ball, converted into a corner after a big skipped pass by Mpilo Gumede (5-0, 4th), then temporarily regaining the lead after a powerful start behind a maul from Akker van der Merwe (12-7, 30th).
Returning from the locker room, Sébastien Piqueronies’ men continued their domination without really benefiting from the score, only scoring 3 points on a penalty from Thomas Souverbie (24-12, 49th). Opposite, the Pretoria players fed off a single 80m counter-blitz hitting the mark with Sebastian de Klerk on the pass and sprinter Cheswill Jooste at the conclusion, for a close encounter on the scoreboard leaving doubt hanging (24-19, 58th).
Especially since physically, the Section lowered its tone when the visiting replacements entered. She lost Thomas Laclayat (71st) on a yellow card for repeated fouls and then the advantage in the score after Nizaam Carr’s strong try (24-26, 73rd), that of the offensive bonus, which then eliminated the Béarnais.
In the final minutes, the Palois tried everything to get back in front. For several minutes, they tried to break through the South African lock, but they never managed to find the solution, even 5 meters from the goal line. A cruel defeat for the French team which, to be overthrown in the Challenge Cup, will have to hope for a defeat by the Scarlets in Northampton (Sunday, 4:15 p.m.).
