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Lyon scrum-half Jonathan Pelissie
USAP will attempt to record back-to-back wins in the EPCR Challenge Cup for the first time in nine years when they host TOP 14 rivals Lyon in Pool B on Saturday.
When they beat Dragons 22-16 in their Round 1 game last month, it ended a seven-game winless run in the competition, six of which were defeats.
The last time they won consecutive games in the competition was in 2012/13, when they notched four victories in a row.
Other key facts:
- USAP and Lyon have never met before in European competition.
- USAP have lost their last two home games against fellow French sides in Europe after winning each of the previous six.
- Lyon have won both their games in the Challenge Cup this season. Only twice before in the competition have they won more in succession – in 2014/15 and 2016/17, when they notched four straight victories.
- Among teams who have featured in the Challenge Cup this season, USAP are the only one who have yet to score a first-half point, while Lyon have scored the most points in the first 40 minutes of their games (28).
- Jonathan Pelissie (Lyon) provided two try assists in Round 2 against Dragons, one of three players to have recorded a brace of assists in a Challenge Cup game this season alongside Benetton’s Callum Braley and Newcastle’s Luther Burrell.
Yanis Charcosset scores Lyon's fifth try against USAP
Lyon cruised to a 37-6 win at USAP in the EPCR Challenge Cup on Saturday night to make it three wins from three in Pool B.
USAP’s quest to record consecutive victories in the competition for the first time in nine years was thwarted once more as their fellow TOP 14 side ran in five tries at Stade Aimé Giral.
Lyon went in at half-time four points to the good, with Roman Taofifenua scoring a try which Lima Sopoaga converted before adding a penalty. Matteo Rodor kept USAP in touch, though, bookending the half with penalties.
🏆 Le LOU Rugby qualifié en 8ème !
Grâce à sa victoire bonifiée contre l’USAP ce samedi (6-37), le LOU Rugby a assuré sa qualification en phase finale de Challenge Cup !
👏🏼 #TeamLOU pic.twitter.com/XGCSDIVnI7
— LOU Rugby (@LeLOURugby) January 15, 2022
But the second half was one-way traffic, with Baptiste Couilloud and Davit Niniashvili going over, and Sapoaga slotting a drop goal just before the hour mark.
Then in the closing minutes, Clement Laporte and Yanis Charcosset both crossed to secure the bonus point and further solidify Lyon’s position at the summit of Pool B.
USAP visit Gloucester Rugby in Round 4 next weekend while Lyon entertain Benetton Rugby.
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