A duel at the top but not at the level hoped for under the Bordeaux fog. The UBB ends up taming an undisciplined RCT in the final moments. The match almost…
A thick fog, two teams neck and neck, twists and turns until the final whistle… The clash at the top between the Union Bordeaux-Bègles and the Rugby Club Toulonnais this Saturday evening in Chaban-Delmas had all the ingredients of a memorable encounter. If the show was not always there, the actors delivered a committed performance until the breathtaking outcome which saw UBB win 21 to 17 and consolidate its leadership position.
UBB solid runner-up to Stade Toulousain
With this painful victory, Christophe Urios' men consolidate their status as serious contenders for the Brennus shield. The Bordelo-Béglais now stand at 45 points, 7 lengths ahead of Bayonne and 8 ahead of their evening opponent, Toulon. Only Stade Toulousain, which faces Stade Français on Sunday, can still challenge them for the leadership position at the end of this 13th day. But beyond the balance sheet, it is the ability to pull through in difficult times that impresses the Gironde side.
Maxime Lucu, Chaban’s metronome
In a closed meeting marred by numerous mistakes, a strong man was needed to guide the UBB. It was scrum half and home scorer Maxime Lucu who donned the costume. Valuable by his initiatives, he admired his vista to energize the kicking game. But it was especially against the poles that he proved decisive, securing a 3/3 in the second act which allowed the locals to stay in contact before the final deliverance. A real metronome.
The spark Retière, the savior Poirot
In a locked-in match without a try for almost 60 minutes, UBB's two achievements were decisive. The first is the work of Arthur Retière, who went quickly and resisted the defenders' return to forcefully flatten the corner. The second was signed by substitute Jefferson Poirot, who closely concluded a long sequence of pick and go to give his team the advantage ten minutes from the whistle. Two actions which could have been anecdotal but which changed the match.
Indiscipline, the capital sin of Toulon
Coming back from nowhere at the end of the match, the Toulonnais may harbor regrets. Because if they have long been on par with the UBB in the engagement, they have been penalized too often to hope to win away. With 14 penalties conceded, including a fatal yellow card in the last ten minutes, the RCT left too much ammunition for a successful scorer like Maxime Lucu. A lack of control which cost them dearly.
The shock at the summit did not keep all its promises
Between two of the most attractive teams in the Top 14, we could expect real fireworks. But the fog, the mistakes and the clumsiness took over the game in a sluggish first act. We had to wait until the last twenty minutes to finally experience a duel worthy of the name, with several reversals of the situation and a suspense that lasted until the end. An interesting overview with a view to the final stages, but we would have liked to see more play.
In the end, the UBB prevailed in courage and continued its march forward. But this narrow victory against a direct competitor still leaves some doubts about the ability of the Bordelo-Béglais to go the distance against the big names. The next few days, including a trip to the Stadium in January, will be revealing. In the meantime, Urios' men can enjoy: by any means necessary, they are more candidates than ever for the title.
Related News :