Top 14 | UBB ends Toulouse’s 2 and a half years of invincibility at home (12-16) and becomes leader

The UBB keeps its feat to the end. Beaten in the last Top 14 final by Stade Toulousain, the Girondins won on Sunday (12-16) at Ernest-Wallon. Enough to put an end to two and a half years of invincibility for the Rouge et Noir at home. At the end of a more exciting game than the score suggests, the Bordelo-Béglais climbed to the top of the championship tied on points (14) with Toulouse who made do with an offensive bonus.

Relief at the end of the effort. After a sequence as stressful as it was trying which lasted after the siren, the last Bordeaux forces threw themselves so as not to give in to the attacks of their adversaries, pushed by a delirious public. A final fight on the ground won by Yannick Bru’s men and already a huge blow at the start of the season. If there were no tests this Sunday evening between the two biggest offensive armadas, there were many other things, starting with impressive solidarity from the visitors.

Above all, there was play on both sides, restarts from 22 meters, post-contact chisteras from pillars and penalties played galore. Stade Toulousain will be able to bite its fingers, having always chosen to go into touch instead of letting Thomas Ramos unfold in front of the poles. A crucial lack of pragmatism in a game with an untenable tempo where the key was perhaps to channel oneself.

Louis Bielle-Biarrey was not of this opinion. On fire at the start of the match, the international winger launched with full ball responded to Blair Kinghorn (try in the 7th) by depositing three Toulouse players (19th, 7-8). Almost in the next action, the young sprinter made the difference on the right to serve Maxime Lucu on a plateau and put the UBB on the right track (23rd, 7-13) taking advantage of the temporary exclusion of Kinghorn (16th).

Capable of dictating the tempo (most of the time very brisk), the Girondins were able to keep their backs in the second part of the match. Especially since they were less armed than their counterparts on the bench which would make any team in the championship blush. While the 2nd period was hanging by a thread, Enzo Reybier thought of flattening a valuable try but ultimately refused after a fabulous save from Romain Ntamack (61st).

Not always inspired, the tricolor opener symbolized the desire of Ugo Mola’s men to come back. Peato Mauvaka’s try (70th, 12-13) also while Thomas Ramos missed the most important transformation of the game. Proof of a Toulouse team being pushed around by the Bordelais without Penaud, Buros or Depoortère, left to rest. This shows the new ambitions of the new leaders of the Top 14.