Uonly one idea in mind. Break the lock to pass a milestone. Driven by its dream of winning the Brennus, the Union Bordeaux-Bègles has the firm intention of opening the doors to the final in Marseille next Friday. This would be a great first. After three painful failures in the semi-finals over the last three seasons, the Bordelais managed to return to the last four where they will this time face Stade Français this Saturday (9:05 p.m.). “We are living this adventure to the fullest,” explains manager Yannick Bru. We follow our path, we are aware that the UBB has been beating around the bush for a while. We hope to do better. »
At Matmut Atlantique, in this stadium that they know so well, the Bordelais will not plunge into the unknown and will be supported by an entire city. “When we meet people in town, they tell us that they are counting on us,” confides third row Mahamadou Diaby. We all had in mind to play this half at home. It must be useful to us. Most of us are going to perform in front of our families. It counts. On the other hand, all this will only make sense if we manage to win. »
Home field advantage
Few teams have the opportunity to continue playing at home after the play-offs. In the history of the Top 14, three of them have already had this opportunity: Toulouse in 2012, Toulon in 2017 (in Marseille) and Lyon in 2018. The first two had managed to qualify, the third had moved on to the hatch. Playing in front of your audience can be a double-edged sword and come with this added pressure, this injunction not to spoil the party. “For us, now, it’s a final phase match, the setting no longer matters,” assures manager Yannick Bru.
After defeating so many teams during a regular season that ended in 2e place, Stade Français also does not want to linger on the site of hostilities. “It’s one of the things that could happen. At the start of the season, we all watch where the semi-finals are played, even if we are perhaps the surprise guest. But we finished the 26 days being the best away team. These are elements that we manage to control. This will make for a fairly open semi-final. »
To pass this milestone of the semi-finals, the UBB will have to force destiny and defy the statistics. Since 2018, the final has always opposed the first two of the regular season. The Bordelais missed the 2e place last May on the pitch of Stade Français (31-28), a team they have never managed to beat this season (26-30 in the first leg). This time, failure would mean the end of the journey. Maxime Lucu and his teammates will therefore have to find the key to overthrowing these Pink Soldiers who have thwarted so many opponents this season.
“We will try not to repeat the same mistakes as in the past”
“When we stumble twice against a team, we ask ourselves better questions,” slips Yannick Bru. We have a good picture of what will be against us but also of what we are capable of doing. We will firmly believe in what we did well during the season. » This Stade Français – UBB promises to be a real opposition of styles with a solid defense on one side and a prolific attack on the other. “We don’t have the same playing philosophy but there are plenty of ways to hit the target,” emphasizes Yannick Bru. We are convinced that it is this rugby that will lead us to victory. »
Confident in their strengths
The Bordelais will appear on the Matmut pitch with more certainty than in their three previous semi-finals. They are no longer the new kids who arrived in Lille in 2021 against Stade Toulousain (24-21). They did not experience internal psychodrama like in 2022 before arriving in Nice to face Montpellier (19-10). And they are much thicker than in 2023 in San Sebastián where they were run over by the Stade Rochelais pack (24-13). “We have this mental and physical freshness that we lacked to approach the previous half, judge Mahamadou Diaby. This is already a positive point. We will also need to have attention to detail: discipline, realism in the goal… We focused on that and we will try not to repeat the same mistakes as in the past. »
“The pressure must not go down. We don’t want to stop there.”
Facing Stade Français, which relies mainly on its conquest, the fight will once again take precedence. The UBB will have to do without Tameifuna (shoulder dislocation), so precious in this register. But the Coleman – Cazeaux combination in the second line and the presence of Tatafu in the center of the third line should allow him to stand up. Behind, the “Patrol of France” (Lucu, Bielle-Biarrey, Penaud, Depoortere, Moefana) is eagerly awaited. And in the absence of Jalibert, Garcia will have to have strong shoulders. “The pressure must not go down,” warns Christophe Laussucq, the defense coach. We are happy to be here, we had targeted this half, especially in Bordeaux. But we don’t want to stop there.”
