The captain of Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Maxime Lucu, was obviously satisfied with his team’s performance on the Exeter pitch with an overwhelming success (17-69) and eleven tries scored. He was also happy to approach the group final against the Sharks knowing that UBB were masters of their destiny, provided they did not relax.
What does this big victory against Exeter inspire you?
We came here for the result we know. We know the importance of each point for the rest of the competition. We had to be serious and implement everything we had seen during the week because Exeter is a very playful team. We also wanted to show our intentions by coming here. We were pretty good on the ruck zones in the first half and we were able to get away thanks to that. We put things in order and we managed to open up a gap early enough to gain confidence and try things a little more complicated at the end.
Didn’t you feel like it was a bit unreal in the second half?
We must not lack humility. We had just decided to play rugby as we had against the Stade Français. We knew that if we relaxed, it was possible to concede two or three tries in ten or fifteen minutes, as can happen in the Champions Cup. We knew that goal average was extremely important. We wanted to continue playing from the first to the last minute.
Also read:
Champions Cup – Lucu guides the pack, Boniface in great form: the notes of Bordeaux-Bègles against Exeter
After taking first place in the Top 14 last weekend, you take first place in your group in the Champions Cup. What does this inspire you?
It’s important. We see that the group is progressing. It is important for the club, the group, the staff, to validate the work that is carried out each week. We see that we are gaining strength little by little. There are crossing points that are important. Today, we were only focused on our match but we knew that a fight also existed with other teams. You had to win, take the bonus and score as many points as possible. We managed to do it. We continue to grow and I find that we are growing from release to release. We must continue like this.
You will meet the Sharks next Sunday at Chaban-Delmas. Are you talking about the importance of this last match?
We wanted to offer ourselves this final in Chaban against the South Africans. We know the toughness of this team. We paid to find out two years ago I think. We know that this is a team that is not easy to maneuver. She has just damaged the big Stade Toulouse team. We will have to work from Tuesday as we have been doing in recent weeks and prepare this match like a final. We know our objective and what is at the end by going for something good if we put in all the ingredients.
Since your last confrontation against the Sharks, you must feel that your team is much better armed…
The return match in South Africa was complicated because we had rotated. It is certain that we have greater squad depth, more quality too. We can make any turnover while remaining competitive. We have a big meeting on Sunday, if not the most important of the season so far. We work for that. The Champions Cup is a great competition and we are happy to play it in these conditions.
This is your eighth consecutive victory, like last season at the same time. How do you explain these two similar series?
It’s a bit similar to last year when we used the Champions Cup to perform. We need to find confidence in our attacking game and this competition helps us do that, because we are playing big matches against big teams. Today, we have eight victories in a row but we must continue to work without thinking of ourselves as others. We must maintain our humility. Everything is reset on Monday by the staff who know that with a lack of humility, we are a team that can take thirty the following weekend. We must always be careful with our group.
