Union Bordeaux-Bègles, second in the top 14, welcomes Toulon, eighth before the start of this 24th day, with an idea in mind: to succeed in validate your ticket for the final stages of the championship. The challenge is considerable, because the dynamics of the two teams are very different: during the last match, mid-February (21-18 for Toulon), the RCT was stuck in the bottom of the classification, when the UBB was racing in head. Union have since won just two of their last nine games as Toulon embarked on a winning streak.
Following the victory in Montpellier last weekend, he is now time to confirm for the beglais. “This victory had the merit of restoring our confidence in our system and our game.“, slips the Unionist pillar Thierry Paiva. His trainer Christophe Urios knows it better than anyone, his group has “went through difficult times, with a course worthy of a relegation“Now that the Union has risen again,”you have to show up. If we win, that will put us in a very good position for the top 6. Before the final sprint, I said that 4 finals awaited us, I haven’t changed my mind. For me, this game is the game of the year“.
Win at Chaban
It’s also the game of the year because in Chaban-Delmas, the UBB is experiencing a real crossing of the desert : no victory since the end of January, and the match against Castres, for Bordeaux. “I’m sick of hearing the music from the guys opposite!“, squeaks Christophe Urios. “I hope we will manage to put things back in order“.
They are better, but they are not unbeatable! We know their strengths, but also their weaknesses.
Opposite, RC Toulon is a scarecrow, and will arrive with full motivation. “It’s a team really driven by its individualities“, observes the Union boss. “They are better, they have a more balanced game, especially on the width of the field. But they are not unbeatable! We know their strengths, but also their weaknesses…we focus on that“. The big challenge of this match for Bordeaux will be to contain Toulon’s motivation: if the varois do not win this match, their hopes of qualifying for the final stages will fly away.
Return of Jalibert
If the UBB, which has “smile again” according to his trainer after his victory last weekend, he is moving forward more confident, it is also thanks to the return of some of his good elements, after several weeks where the infirmary has not been empty. The return by Matthieu Jalibert is particularly awaited, Christophe Urios is not mistaken. “He is an outstanding competitor. He will be there to pull the group up. When he says things, he does them“. He will hold this Sunday.
Thierry Paiva adds that “Matthieu is able to unblock the situation at any time… This is perhaps what we missed on certain weekends“. At first, the international fly-half should not take over the goal-scoring charge.”Maxime Lucu will continue to stumble“, indicates Christophe Urios, who recalls that Matthieu Jalibert was injured in the quadriceps, and that he must first “focus on the fundamentals” before taking the goal.
François, we didn’t bring him in so that he could take on 4 months in the season on his own
The return of Matthieu Jalibert will have another great merit: allow François Trinh-Duc to breathe. “Francois has been outstanding lately“, slips Christophe Urios. “But like Louis Picamoles, they are boys, who have played too much. François, we didn’t bring him in to take on 4 months of the season on his own, doing 80 minutes each time!“
For this match against Toulon, Romain Buros also returns as holder, otherwise, no change compared to last week against Montpellier. For Guido Petti, Ben Tameifuna and Bastien Vergnes, insufficiently recovered, it will be necessary to wait for the match against Lyon, on May 21. Jefferson Poirot, whose season was to be over, because of a tear in the calf, could return to him earlier than expected, from the final stages, announces his coach.
UBB-Toulon, it’s to live in full on France Bleu Gironde and francebleu.fr with Arnaud Carré and Julien De Jong this Sunday from 8:30 p.m.