QWhen there is no more, there is still some. We are talking about the waltz of comings and goings in the squad of the Union Bordeaux-Bègles. After that of the November tour and its share of selected, released, recalled, definitively returned and returned injured, there is that of the return from tour and the obligatory vacation to be given before December 31.
Scrum half and captain Maxime Lucu, third row Marko Gazzotti and full-back or winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey are affected with a week of rest on the program. They are therefore not available to the staff for the trip to Castres, scheduled for this Saturday (9:05 p.m.).
“This adaptation is the daily life of all the staff and all the teams in the championship, so we have to deal with it,” admits Bordeaux forwards coach, Jean-Baptiste Poux. For our part, we also have to deal with the few injuries but we are also making comebacks. It’s up to us to find the best balance to remain efficient every weekend.”
Jalibert deprived of gifts
Unfortunately for the forward pack, particularly expected in Tarn, several players entered the infirmary. While left pillar Mathis Perchaud is already there for several months (shoulder dislocation) just like right-hander Sipili Falatea (knee surgery), second row Jonny Gray has joined them. The Scottish international (30 years old, 77 caps) suffers from an ankle syndesmosis injury suffered against Ulster and has just started a treatment protocol of at least two months. The operation has been ruled out for the moment but he will not see the field again before mid-February, at best. For his part, third row Pierre Bochaton (23 years old) will undergo an operation for a back problem. “I will treat myself and I will come back,” he promised on the set of the show Top Rugby, on TV7, last week.
Matthieu Jalibert will miss the next three Top 14 matches in Castres, against Toulon and at Stade Français
Behind, it’s not all rosy either. Matthieu Jalibert is simply missing out on all the end-of-year festivities. The international fly-half (26 years old, 34 caps) suffers from a lesion of the rectus femoris muscle in his left thigh and is not expected to be back before mid-January and the rest of the Champions Cup in Exeter (January 11). For full-back Romain Buros, the return is imminent after a thigh injury more serious than the crutch initially contracted with the XV of France during the tour. However, he was judged too tight for the meeting in Castres and should apply for the reception in Toulon (Saturday December 28, 9:05 p.m.).
Fortunately, the magic of Christmas has not completely deserted the banks of the Garonne. Yannick Bru’s staff records feedback for his trip to the Castres and the gala match against the RCT: the second row Cyril Cazeaux has recovered from his broken toe, the young third row Temo Matiu (23 years old) in finished with his concussion protocol (suffered against Vannes) and the South African center Rohan Janse van Rensburg is also free of a back injury which had deprived him, at the last moment, of the trip to Ulster. Alleluia.
