Established to everyone’s surprise, Matthieu Jalibert helplessly witnessed the rout of Union Bordeaux-Bègles against Stade Toulousain (59-3), during the Top 14 2024 final. The opener was initially announced forfeit for this meeting due to a thigh injury and was finally replaced shortly before the hour mark.
You shouldn’t have been from Bordeaux this Friday evening. Faced with the armada of Stade Toulouseled again by a great Antoine Dupont, the players of theUBB were literally swept away. Even Matthew Jalibertthe whimsical opener started at the last minute by Yannick Brucould not do anything.
“We made the decision to take the risk”
In the mixed zone after the final of Top 14, the international opener returned to this surprising choice to start the match. “ The season was almost over for me. Mateo Garcia (the other UBB fly-half) felt some discomfort before the final. I was getting better and better. We made the decision to take the risk ” has explained Matthieu Jalibertat the microphone of Canal +.
“After 15 minutes I felt pain and discomfort”
But everything did not go well, since he seemed affected quite early in the match and was finally replaced in the 55th minute, by Paul Abadie. « After 15 minutes, I felt pain and discomfort. To play my game, to gain speed, it was complicated ” told Jalibertwho will now be able to regenerate to prepare for next season. Honestly, my feelings weren’t good, but I don’t want to complain. I was lucky to play the final: for me, it was something incredible ».
