Jalibert already in the rhythm, the Parisian defense at bay… the tops and the flops

TOPS

Matthieu Jalibert, clinical and collective facilitator

Imperial in his role as scorer (7/8, 16 points), Matthieu Jalibert was one of the key players in the Girondins’ success, providing gifts to his partners, notably Romain Buros (7th) and Yann Lesgourges (70th), who only had to finish the job behind the line. Precise in his footy game, the French international was right in his choices, without trying to make the difference on his own, as he has often been criticized for. Undeniably the man of the match.

Also readTop 14: At home, UBB strikes hard from the start to push aside Stade Français

The Biellle-Biarrey will-o’-the-wisp is (already) wreaking havoc

All that was missing was a try to complete his high-flying match. While the UBB backs were celebrating by scoring their team’s six tries, Louis Bielle-Biarrey was undoubtedly the one who gave the Parisian defenders the most headaches. With 156 metres covered with the ball in hand, three crossings and five defenders beaten, the international winger had ants in his legs. His 60-metre run at the end of the match to serve his centre Nicolas Depoortere on a platter (73rd) is a model of the genre.

UBB starts on the right track

More than two months after their historic defeat in the Top 14 final against Stade Toulousain (59-3), Yannick Bru’s men got off to an ideal start to their new season in what was a remake of the semi-final. Surgical and authors of four tries in the first half, by Romain Buros (7th), Maxime Lucu (17th), Damian Penaud (33rd) and Nicolas Depoortere (37th), UBB had already made the difference in the first 40 minutes (28-5). If the Girondins experienced a slight dip in form after the break, conceding two tries through Sergo Abramishvili (46th) and Sekou Macalou (58th), they completed their clear victory thanks to Yann Lesgourges’ banderilla (70th) and Nicolas Depoortere’s double (73rd). Despite some defensive largesse, the UBB offensive armada was able to make the difference to the great delight of the crowd at the Chaban-Delmas stadium, incandescent and packed for the season premiere.

FLOPS

Parisian defense is taking on water

However, it was Stade Français’ main strength last season, finishing in second place in the regular phase. On Saturday evening, the Parisian defense was pierced on all sides against the Girondins armada and in particular its flamboyant three-quarter line, author of six tries, including four in the first half. Well behind at the break (28-5), the Parisians missed almost a quarter of their tackles in the first half (20/83), proof of their defensive fragility. Better organized after the break, they nevertheless cracked at the end of the match by conceding two new tries (70th, 73rd) for a score that was conclusive at the final whistle: 46-26.

Also readUBB-Stade Français: relive the Girondins’ big win over the Parisians

Joe Jonas dampens Stade Français’s recovery

While the pink soldiers had managed to come back to 12 points from the UBB (31-19) and had been dominant since the start of the second half, a fact of play came to tarnish their end of the match. On a disaster return at the end of the line, Joe Jonas came to tackle Louis Bielle-Biarrey high (63rd). A dangerous gesture which logically earned him a yellow card and a numerical inferiority of ten minutes for the Parisians. During this period of time, they conceded two new tries through Yann Lesgourges (70th) and Nicolas Depoortere (73rd) and let their last hopes of victory fly away.

Penaud’s blunder that caused UBB to lose the offensive bonus

The siren had been ringing for a few seconds at Chaban-Delmas and on a Girondins possession, Damian Penaud only had to clear the ball into touch to allow his team to offer themselves a bonus success. But the international winger decided otherwise and voluntarily threw the ball into touch. Sanctioned by Mr. Blasco-Baqué for foul play, he offers a last ammunition to the pink soldiers… who do not need to be asked twice to convert it. On a penalty quickly taken by the replacement scrum-half Brad Weber, after another defensive offside by the Girondins, Sekou Macalou, author of a remarkable entrance, is called upon at the end of the line and shows his power to get the better of Matthieu Jalibert and offer himself a double (58th, 80th+1). A point stupidly left on the road that could make Union Bordeaux-Bègles dizzy at the end of the season.