Third in the regular season, the UBB faces Montpellier, second in the exercise. Six days after the success against Racing in the dam (36-16). Bordeaux-Béglais manager Christophe Urios feels his group is ready to reach a new level and challenge the winner of the derby between Stade Toulousain and Castres in the final.
How do you approach this match against Montpellier?
Christophe Urios (UBB manager) : “I find that the semi-final is the hardest match to prepare for. The quarter-final is played in the continuity of the season, we were in a positive game dynamic. The week of the semi-final is different, there is wear and tear on the barrage which makes it more difficult to play high-level matches. We have to manage these parameters, especially since there is still a step to climb. Afterwards, I really find us quite cool.”
How do you perceive this state of freshness? What are the signs released by the group?
Christopher Urios : “The group finds a certain level, especially the injured who find rhythm and connections in the game. This is particularly the case for our pair of centers, our opener, our back. I think that we will be fresh for this weekend. I don’t know if we’ll be fresher than our opponents, but what we’ll have to do is tear our heads off. But I already think we’re good physically.”
We look more like a very high level team than a year ago
Do you feel that the team is stronger than last year?
Christopher Urios : “I don’t think we’re stronger than last year, but more ready. Last year, even if we had a very good match in the semi-finals, we were already satisfied to be arrived there. I do not feel the same thing as the previous year. I find at the level of the players, that it is not a culmination of the season but a point of passage. What I said to the players it is that today we just restored a broken promise by playing against Racing and we are at the same level as last year so it is a form of experience even if it is already good. But now, you have to pass this course. It’s above all mental, you have to be ambitious, with a desire to succeed in things, even after a week of tension.”
Have you emphasized the importance of discipline in these kinds of encounters?
Christopher Urios : “We don’t insist too much on discipline because I think we are already quite good at the moment. The contribution of Laurent Cardona (referee) has helped us a lot as well as the experience of last season. I found that we were rather disciplined last weekend. We are not on the standards of last year where indiscipline penalized us during the semi-final. We are more like a team of very high level than a year ago, on the bases, discipline and ambition. We are more solid.”
This solidity appeared against Racing, especially around a big pack. Is this one of your satisfactions from last weekend?
Christopher Urios : “Yes, we knew that in the Racing match, this could be an important point. I thought that we were superior before the match, that we were stronger than them, even if we have to prove it. So that Montpellier are not the same. They are a stronger, more compact team with better experience and a lot of ground play. Saturday evening, there will be a match.”