the shock against Toulouse is just right for Maxime Lucu
The UBB will find its pet peeve in a sold-out Chaban-Delmas stadium. Beaten twice in the regular phase but especially in the semi-finals of the Champions Cup and then the Top 14 last season, Maxime Lucu’s Union hopes to find the key in a match that can allow him to take the lead of the Top 14. The semi scrum was this Monday the guest of 100% UBB, the rugby program of France Bleu Gironde.
Are you aware of having struck a big blow on Sunday night at the Arena?
Maxime Lucu : on a felt a lot of confidence, a lot of serenity. We felt in the second half, that we were gaining confidence in ourselves, that we were trying things. And with the quality of our rear lines, we are able to do great things and score great tries. This is what allowed us to take off. We felt that by holding the ball, we managed to undermine this Racing team, to make them doubt. You just had to put things in order, carry the ball to the advantage line, win the duels and put speed. We have a very important block in December so it was important not to gamble after this match in La Rochelle (editor’s note: defeat 26-3) and bounce back.
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Victory in Lyon, victory in Racing, is this a new strong message sent to the competition?
We want to travel better than in other years. These matches confirm us that we are able to do it. Now, an away victory is always validated by a home victory. What could be better than facing Toulouse to confirm all this?
We always manage to be in the match, we always think that we can win and in the end it is always Toulouse who wins.
This shock against Toulouse, is it a hell of a challenge?
Hosting Toulouse with the objective of reclaiming first place is a very exciting week. Chaban will be sold out for the first time since the pre-Covid match against Lyon. The atmospheres have been at the top since the start of the season and this one will be even more beautiful.
Toulouse who beat you four times last season. What did you learn from these losses?
The paradox of these defeats is that they almost all look alike. We always manage to be in the game, we always think that we can win and in the end it is always Toulouse who wins. A team like Toulouse is used to playing these matches in particular in detail, in realism. They don’t have a lot of chances but it’s a team that has always encountered balloons in the background. We had occasions we never managed to understand. Hopefully we’ve learned from these mistakes. We sent that the team has matured but we can’t wait to assess ourselves.
In its team building, the UBB must show itself that it is capable of beating Toulouse?
On top of all the frustration of last season. If we take the two semi-finals, it’s a huge disappointment, especially that of Lille. Measuring yourself at this time of the season against Stade Toulousain is very important for the rest of the championship. The classification is starting to show itself and just before the European Cup, Racing against Toulouse would be a huge opportunity to gain confidence and continue the path we are taking.
Is UBB stronger today?
I do not know. We often gauge a season in the depths of winter. There are grounds for satisfaction. I find that we are a little more serene in the moments of doubt when it is easier to score points. We are also perhaps a little more disciplined. So I would say discipline and this ability to be realistic.