the awakening of the Galactics, a fatal acceleration, yellows in spades… The tops and the flops

TOPS

The final acceleration of the UBB

A second success which feels good. Long pushed around and uninspired in attack, Union Bordeaux-Bègles was able to accelerate on the hour mark to snatch victory on the pitch at the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast (19-40), where they had already won in January 2017 (26-22). After a much too undisciplined first half (read below), Yannick Bru's players waited until the second half to bring down the Northern Irish and score three tries in 10 minutes. A fatal 21-0 thanks to Damian Penaud (61st), Guido Petti (67th) and the untenable Louis Bielle-Biarrey (70th), author of his eighth try in his last seven matches. Belfast and furious. Before Ugo Boniface (79th) finally drives home the point. As against Leicester, UBB was manhandled but, once again, it was able to go into overdrive to make the difference. Formidable offensive machine. On the other hand, it will be necessary to resolve the problem of missed starts to matches, a recurring problem this season.

Bordeaux's progress in scrum

If the Bordeaux touch is effective (6 stolen balls last week against Leicester), the same is not true in the scrum, where the pack trained by Jean-Baptiste Poux has been regularly penalized this season. “We are not very satisfied with what we produce on the ground. had recognized former international prop Jefferson Poirot before the match. But this Saturday against Ulster, the UBB scrum showed that these problems had been taken into account. In this sector, the Girondins held on and even collected two penalties in the first half (15th, 37th). And one more at the start of the first half (45th). Reassuring.

The “Galactics” wake up

Certainly, two key elements were missing from the UBB three-quarter line described as “Galactics”: fly-half Matthieu Jalibert and full-back Romain Buros, left to rest for this second day of the Champions Cup. But the UBB had other internationals on the field capable of making plays, especially on this synthetic turf: arrows Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey and centers Nicolas Depoortère and Yoram Moefana. So many players who have long struggled to express themselves at the Kingspan Stadium, before redressing the situation at the hour mark. The Bordelais found some color in the second half and showed their fury. A salutary awakening. Note Arthur Retière's full match: 45 meters covered, 3 defenders beaten and 4 turnovers won.

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XV of France: “Its implementation is astonishing”, Vincent Clerc and Yoann Huget scrutinize Louis Bielle-Biarrey

FLOPS

The whole of Ulster is still sinking

The shipwreck suffered last week in Toulouse (61-21) left its mark on the Belfast side, where the local press was not kind to Uslter. For this second Champions Cup match, change of scenery and team: ten changes and above all a completely remodeled pack. The Northern Irish province, aggressive in combat zones and more biting in attack, has long stood up to the vice-champions of France. Before breaking down at the hour mark. Ulster, the former stronghold of Irish rugby (1999 European champion), confirms that it has fallen into line. She certainly showed a different face than Ernest-Wallon faced with the Toulouse ogre. But it was hard to do worse…

Three yellows in half an hour, nice record

This is one of the black spots since the start of the UBB season: a failed start to the match, which forces Yannick Bru's team to chase the score. This was the case last week against Leicester (14-21 at the break, 42-28 in the end), as against Lyon and Clermont, or even the first half against Vannes. After the strong try scored quickly by Tevita Tatafu (2nd), things quickly deteriorated. The Bordelais then suffered Irish attacks, unable to get their hands on the ball. And they then multiplied the faults and the Italian referee, Gianluca Gnecchi, showed his yellow card three times in the first half hour: for Marko Gazzotti (18th) – also author of a solid match -, for Jefferson Poirot (32nd) and, immediately, for Yoram Moefana (32nd). Unprecedented at this level. But UBB was “only” trailing 19-14 at the break…