Tameifuna and Jalibert present in the Top 14 final? When Bru plays it like Novès…

The doubt persists. And Yannick Bruas a perfect student of the master in the field Guy Novès, maintained the suspense regarding the participations of Matthieu Jalibert and Ben Tameifuna for the Top 14 final against Toulouse in Marseille Friday June 28 (9 p.m.).

Tameifuna and Jalibert present?

Yannick Bru knew very well that he was not going to cut it. And the question arose, very quickly, since it was the first asked by the press: so, Tameifuna (hit in the right shoulder) and Jalibert (torn thigh), will they play? A little grin at the corner of his lips, as if he expected it, and had prepared himself for it, the Bordeaux technician… left doubt.

“We did two weeks at 6 days. It was intense for the staff, with little recovery. We focused on ourselves,” Bordeaux-Bègles manager Yannick Bru began to respond. Before saying a little more.

Every week there are cycles. Times when pessimism is there. Players, injured, think they won’t be there. Then, the days advance, and hope is born. We used every day of the week to try to do what could be done. A final is a special match. You don’t approach it with a thought for what’s next. We will make a decision tonight after the captain’s training.

No bluff according to Yannick Bru

It cannot be ruled out that this Thursday, at 6 p.m., when the composition will be revealed, that the Tameifuna and Jalibert cases will not be completely resolved. Present, they could ultimately be absent. And vice versa. The big bluff in a way, a lying poker game that the former Toulouse manager, Guy Novès, never denied, who had changed no less than 3 players during the Top 14 final against Toulon in 2012.

“We are not in a strategy of putting together a plan that could weaken us more than benefit us. Let this be clear. For Matthieu, it is he who will decide,” said Yannick Bru. “The players are aware that there is a plan B. They are also aware that there will be a test for Ben and Matthieu. I think we respected both players: it was their wish. The whole group integrated everything perfectly.”

An undeniable contribution

One thing is certain: the presence of Tameifuna and Jalibert changes things, as they are decisive in the UBB game. “It’s two pluses for the team, that’s obvious. We have also won games without them this year, but it is clear that we prefer to have them with us. They have a big impact on the team,” recognized Bru.

“Matthieu prepared himself by telling himself that he had a chance. Away, with the staff who took good care of him. We know his talent, his importance in our system, our way of playing, having him is a positive bridge. This changes a lot of things in our system,” said scrum half Maxime Lucu.

“We’ll see if the lights are green for Ben. He brings a physical dimension to our game, he is a sure value in the scrum and he is very strong in the ground game. I don’t need to emphasize that he is important in our team,” added Maxime Lamothe.

Verdict Friday, then. And perhaps even just before the kick-off of the final against Toulouse (9:05 p.m.).

Clément MAZELLA, special envoy to Marseille

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