4 days before the end of the regular season both teams must still secure their place in the final stages.
Last year (March 25, 2023) La Rochelle largely won against Bordeaux, 36 to 6 at Matmut Atlantique. This season the maritimes are perhaps a little less sharp but the UBB knows that it will have to take on a big physical challenge. La Rochelle is tough with a dominating forward pack that often makes the difference. How to counter this power? Elements of response with Yannick Bru, manager of UBB.
How are you approaching this end of the championship?
Yannick Bru : today everything is open. Each match is in a way a round of 16 to open the door to the play-off. We know very well that the first 2 places are almost inaccessible. We stayed on the right path thanks to our two performances here against Clermont and then in Bayonne. We have our destiny in hand, we control things but we also know that La Rochelle has created a habit here in Bordeaux, so it is up to us to drive change. Every misstep over the last 4 games will bring us closer to the grave.
A rivalry has been created between UBB and La Rochelle in recent years. Is this a match that is approached differently from the others?
I think the players are very modest about that. The past belongs to them and we and the entire staff rarely talk about the past. La Rochelle has been a dominant team in the Top 14 and in Europe in recent years. They will come and challenge us. We know precisely to what extent the La Rochelle team will press. We know their method for cracking opponents. We will be there Saturday evening to take on this challenge.
How to compete with the power of La Rochelle?
They are formidable with the Panzer Division. It’s going to hit hard, it’s going to hit hard. We know their DNA. But we are also going to add power. We are on absolute vigilance and we have prepared well. Last week we were able to regenerate. I hope this freshness will be beneficial.
