against Leicester, UBB wants to show that “last season was not an anomaly”

He’s grown up and he wants to prove it. Saturday 11 December, Union Bordeaux-Bègles faces Leicester (to be continued on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. on France 2) for his entry into the Champions Cup in the shock of this first day. Faced with the rebirth of this historic European club, indisputable and undefeated leader of its championship, UBB, also at the top of its championship, is moving forward ambitiously, confidence pumped up in particular by its victory last weekend against the defending Toulouse champion.

“We brought down the European champion (Stade Toulousain), it shouldn’t scare us to welcome Leicester, even if it’s going to be a big fight.”

Nans Ducuing, rear of the UBB

at a pre-match press conference

Since the unprecedented semi-final won in the European Challenge in 2020, UBB has had a series of historic performances inviting itself to the semi-final of the European Cup and Top 14 last year. The Aquitaine club does not want to stop there and aspires to the highest peaks. “We are trying to build a big project in Bordeaux (…) Internally, we have set our clear objectives. We are approaching this competition with a lot of confidence, also with the desire to show that last year was not an anomaly. “, exposed the international pillar and captain Jefferson Poirot in a press conference.

To answer the game “frontal “ and “bestial” of their opponent of the day, as described by club manager Christophe Urios, and to start this group stage in the best possible way, the UBB notably worked on the balls carried and the occupation game. In the absence of international opener Matthieu Jalibert (thigh), a Lucu-Trinh-Duc hinge will lead the way. The only real surprise on the UBB side is Poirot’s tenure as left pillar. He had not worn the number 1 jersey since mid-October in Pau.

The XV of the UBB: Poirot (cap), Maynadier, Tameifuna – Douglas, Jolmes – Woki, Picamoles, Vergnes – Lucu (m), Trinh-Duc (o) – Lam, Moefana, Dubié, Mori – Ducuing

The Leicester XV: Genge (cap), Dolly, Heyes – Chessum, Green – Martin, Wiese, Reffell – van Poortvliet (m), Ford (o) – Saumaki, Scott, Porter, Potter – Hegarty.


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