The Union Bordeaux-Bègles knows where it is going. In the past, she took big blows to the head from Marcel-Deflandre. “These are always physical matches there,” underlines Jean-Baptiste Poux, the Gironde scrum coach. “They spanked us a few times which left a mark on us. We know that if we go with 10% less mental preparation, it won’t work. It’s a very frontal game. So if in the head we don’t go there to hurt ourselves and put our shoulders to it, it can be expensive in the end. »
The scathing 81-12 of 2019 is, however, nothing more than a distant memory for the Bordelais. Since their first success in Charente-Maritime (8-12) two years ago, they have stood up to the Rochelais more often. “We went there with a very specific strategy that all the players applied well,” remembers Jean-Baptiste Poux. I think we surprised them. They didn’t expect us at this level. There, we are first (before the 7e day), we competed last year (25-21), the surprise effect will no longer be there. »
To try to counter the power of a vengeful maritime pack, Yannick Bru, the UBB manager, still concocted the leader’s little surprise by lining up a bench with 7 forwards and 1 rear. A recipe discovered last year among the Springboks of Rassie Erasmus and their famous bench nicknamed “bomb squad”, notably used during their second consecutive world title. If Yannick Bru was undoubtedly influenced by the South Africans during his time with the Durban Sharks, the Gironde manager is not the first to use this recipe in the Top 14. Indeed, Patrice’s Montpellier Collazo had already released the “7-1” card last February against… Stade Rochelais (18-10 defeat). A strategy which had made it possible to shake up the former European champions but which had also been able to disorganize the Hérault back line.
Buros joker at the back
Beyond competing in the fight, “it was a specific strategy based on the elements we had,” Collazo explained at the time. “We analyzed a lot of things. From the timing of our players, of theirs, we knew that they had key players forced to continue. We managed to do some rotations in the European Cup and regenerate certain players. »
Just six days before the next home meeting against Section Paloise, Yannick Bru was forced to leave certain executives from the back lines to rest (Lucu, Jalibert) for this meeting at Marcel-Deflandre. And Romain Buros will be the only full-back on the bench, covering positions 10 to 15. “We are lucky to have a quality squad. We have to manage the sequence of matches, underlines Jean-Baptiste Poux. Faced with the big teams in the championship, we know that sometimes we can lose weight. You have to anticipate everything. »
Remaining on four consecutive successes, the UBB has much less pressure than the Rochelais on this meeting. But for the Bordelais, it is not a bonus match. “It’s a demand on ourselves,” emphasizes Jean-Baptiste Poux. Having faced Toulouse (12-16), the Gironde pack is undoubtedly moving towards an even fiercer fight. “We know that we have a quality pack but that can sometimes get through. » The Bordeaux front eight will pass a real test of regularity.
