Lacking regularity since the start of the season, UBB has just chained two successes against Toulon and Lyon, before challenging Clermont on Sunday.
With the postponement of the European Cup and the rescheduling of matches postponed in Top 14, the Union Bordeaux-Bègles will chain a third meeting against a candidate for the title in Top 14. After having made the RC Toulon (31-18) fold ) then the LOU (31-9), the Girondins, seventh in the standings, receive Clermont this Sunday and aim for the pass of three to settle definitively in the top six. “You do not come out unscathed from these matches, which are hard to play, warns manager Christophe Urios. And since we are also a physical team, it can spark off against Clermont. ”
Against the Lyonnais, the UBB hit hard. Confirmed its rise to power. “It’s a game that we controlled, where we did what we wanted to do, which is to say, put intensity and speed. I am satisfied with the group, the state of mind of the group and our rugby is in the process of continuing to develop. It’s linked to trust, ”confirms the Bordeaux manager. And to add: “Even if the start of the match does not conform to what I had imagined, we controlled, we did not panic, even if the Lyonnais were well in place in our 22 meters. Is this a benchmark match? I do not know. Toulon had been in the same state of mind. He is a reference because we win with the bonus and in the points race, we do a 5-0 against Lyon. It will be important at the end of the season. ”
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After a complicated start to the season (three initial defeats), Bordeaux-Bègles struggled to find the right fuel. To find the level of play that was his, last season, when the team was leading the Top 14 before the competition was stopped at the end of the 17th day because of the health crisis. Ignition delay on restart. This season, Christophe Urios has pushed several rants against his players. At the beginning of October, after the setback conceded to… Lyon (27-10), he did not mince his words: “The week will be tough, we will play those who want to play. There, I have a little the balls. Tomorrow, I will still have the boules, the day after tomorrow even more the boules. I hate that we cheat like that, that we pretend. ”
A bad patch that seems to have passed. “Physically, we’re better. In our rugby, you can feel it. When we manage to be physically good, we manage to gain speed, and when we have speed, we are dangerous. We create chances and we score tries, that’s a good sign. We regained our efficiency on the counter-attacks, which was our strong point last year, ”Urios confirmed at a press conference this week. Last week, his team showed control and efficiency to overcome Lyon. Strong in defense at the start of the match, then sharp and powerful to win with the offensive bonus.
“We started the year very well by beating two direct competitors. We are also sending messages that we will have to rely on us, hammered the rear Nans Ducuing on France Bleu, taken over by the Rugby Scapulaire site. We still make two very beautiful copies. It’s positive, but there are still large customers who come forward so we won’t have to slack off, but we’re off to a good start. “
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Clermont’s coming to Chaban-Delmas will serve as a test. To validate the progress seen. Bordeaux-Bègles remains on three successes in a row against ASM: two victories last season, then another in friendly at the start of the year. Almost intractable at home this season (a setback against Racing 92, five wins), the Girondins have not lost in their lair against the Auvergnats since March 2016 (19-24).
No room for error therefore for the UBB which must confirm its return to the fore on Sunday by offering itself the scalp of a new “big customer”. And the rest of the program promises to be very generous with a trip to the synthetic turf of Racing 92 (late 19th day) and a reunion with Clermont (15th day), at the Michelin stadium this time.
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