Pnext stop: the Rabine stadium. Union Bordeaux-Bègles will play its very first match in Vannes this Saturday (9:05 p.m.) for the resumption of the Top 14. If Jefferson Poirot already played there a few years ago with the French under-20 team or Pablo Uberti with Grenoble in Pro D2, this trip to Brittany on the promoted field has the air of a “meeting in unknown land” for the vast majority of Bordeaux residents. “There is obviously a somewhat special fervor with musical instruments whose names I don’t know… The binious? », smiles Christophe Laussucq, the coach in charge of the Gironde defense. “There is a somewhat particular atmosphere but it should not destabilize us.” Because in the race for the final stages, and with a view to direct qualification for the semi-finals, the UBB has no more time to lose away.
Apart from “a prestigious victory” (dixit Yannick Bru) in Toulouse (12-16) at the end of September, the Bordelais are currently having a lot of trouble away from Chaban-Delmas. “We are only one victory away from four trips,” underlines Christophe Laussucq. This is not enough if we want to hope to stay at the top of the rankings. We have already missed three opportunities. »
Learn the lessons
Whether in Lyon (28-26), La Rochelle (32-22), or Clermont (32-27), “we repeat a bit of the same mistakes”, recognizes Jefferson Poirot, who will be captain this Saturday in Vannes . “We are often passive at the start of matches, or disorganized, or not concentrated,” summarizes Christophe Laussucq. In any case, we concede too many points too soon. Teams often want to reassure themselves at home by making big starts, putting a lot of pressure on the opponent. It is clear that each time we resisted this pressure poorly. We often come back to the match too late.” “We have to be able to grow from that,” continues Jefferson Poirot. If we want to be ahead in the championship, we know that away victories count the most.”
“We repeat a bit of the same mistakes, we have to manage to grow from that”
On the Breton promoted pitch, Stade Toulousain did not tremble (18-43). “It’s also a distance competition,” points out Jefferson Poirot. In the back of our minds, we say to ourselves that those we are fighting against did the job there, whether it was Toulouse or Racing 92 (24-27). It puts a little more pressure on our shoulders and it gives a little more obligation to achieve results.”
After the international break, for this last autumn double with the unexpected reinforcement of Matthieu Jalibert, the UBB must therefore raise the cursor on the ground of the red lantern. But the Girondins are still wary of this promotion with a conquering scrum which has already brought down Lyon (30-20) and Castres (34-28). “Vannes is a team that plays well, which is used to winning since it has been at the top of the Pro D2 table for a long time,” underlines Christophe Laussucq. They have had the same structure for a long time, a manager who has been in place for a long time… They have mastered their game. There will be a lot of intensity on their part.”
Despite the absences of the internationals (Bielle-Biarrey, Moefana, Gazzotti, Petti, Tameifuna, Tatafu), the UBB will try to get back on track after the break.
