Top 14. Encore une claque dans les ambitions de Bordeaux-Bègles
Jalibert without impact
The victory in Montpellier (22-23) had however revived them perfectly. The return of Matthieu Jalibert after four months of absence should bring even more confidence. But it must be noted that RC Toulon, who had no room for error to stay in the race, knew how to do what was necessary to not miss this great opportunity.
This Sunday, the people of Bordeaux were treated to a real showdown. In the first period, the two teams answered each other tit for tat in terms of the physical challenge, the two packs engaged in a fierce fight, dominating the scrums in turn, the two scorers, Lucu (3/3) and Carbonel (3/ 3), did not tremble in front of the poles. So much so that at the break, nothing was done (16-16) and we wondered who was going to crack first.
Following a penaltouch, the UBB was granted a penalty try on a devastating maul which sent Lamothe into the in-goal (10-6, 25th). Guilty of anti-game, Gros received a yellow card and left the RCT at 14. But the Var reacted on the possession that followed. Following a small kick over the Gironde defense, Luc recovered the ball, faked a pass which left Jalibert on the spot, before going on a try (10-13, 27and). For his return after four months of absence, the opening half of the UBB (67 minutes of play) sought the rhythm and ensured without embellishment after seeing his first attempt to attack the line failed against the Toulon wall.
Decisive Luke
In the second half, the air was still just as hot, the tackles still just as strong, the rucks still just as suffocating… Entering the game, Roumat recovered ammunition from the Toulon line-up. The Bordelais tried to light the fuse by Seuteni, Moefana and Lam but the few major actions aborted each time because of bad transmissions, from ahead, or were pushed back into touch like Jolmes (55and) 5 meters from the line. Lucu then harangued the stands to ask for even more support.
But it was Toulon who took the score when Luc, on the left wing, tapped on the foot, won his aerial duel against Buros, and signed his double (16-23, 61and). The RCT even widened the gap on a new penalty from Carbonel (16-26, 67and). UBB tried to come back but still missed their chance, on a ball lost in touch in the opposing 22 meters on their own throw (69and) or a ball dropped by Woki in the zone of truth under defensive pressure from Var (70and). Carbonel, he let nothing pass and managed a new defeat to give 13 points ahead of the RCT (16-29, 74th). Enough to win at Chaban-Delmas and stay in the race for qualification.