A disorganized return to school for Bordeaux-Bègles - L'Équipe

RugbyTop 14,UBBL'UBB won its first warm-up match against Biarritz (28-7) on Friday at the Villeneuve-d'Ascq Stadium. (E. Garnier/The Team)

Between the internationals, the Rugby Championship and the injured, the UBB will play, like many other Top 14 teams, the first day of the Championship on September 4 with a reduced workforce. The point on the different return dates.

Two months after the frustrating defeat against Stade Toulousain (21-24) in the semi-finals of the Top 14, UBB returned to the pitch on Friday, with their first friendly match against promoted Biarritz Olympique (28-7 ) to crown a preparation started at the end of July. “I have the feeling that we are back on a good footing. We make the effort, everyone connects quickly. We quickly returned to the same pace as last season, ”Bordeaux captain Jefferson Poirot assured this Monday, during the UBB back-to-school press conference.

On this occasion, manager Christophe Urios gave an update on his workforce. And like many Top 14 teams, the Bordeaux locker room is far from complete. Those who left to play the summer tour in Australia are not yet available. Cameron Woki will be able to play the second day of Top 14, against Stade Français (September 11).

On the other hand, Romain Buros, who was retained with the Blues but who has not played any match, will be able to be aligned from the first day. Cyril Cazeaux, who injured his ankle before the last test against the Wallabies, is in the recovery phase and will not be able to return until the reception of Stade Français.

The other internationals will also return in scattered order. Tongan prop Ben Tameifuna will return to training on Monday. The Argentinians (Guido Petti, Santiago Cordero) will return to Bordeaux in early October. As for the South African hooker Joseph Dweba, he will benefit from leave at the beginning of October and will therefore miss the Bordelais for several more weeks.

In search of a medical joker

The UBB will also not be able to count on its young scrum half Jules Gimbert (23 years old), victim of a rupture of the cruciate ligaments during the first stage of the Super Sevens. The Béglais club is therefore looking for a medial joker. One condition: that he be JIFF (player from the French formation), indicated Urios, before adding that the search was “not easy”. Geoffrey Cros, who was close to returning after a serious knee injury last November, will remain sidelined for another four to six weeks. The winger was hit in the knee again in training.

The Bordeaux manager also returned to the departure of Scott Higginbotham on Monday. Arrived in Bordeaux in 2019, the Australian third line has been one of the centerpieces of the last two seasons of the UBB. At the end of the contract last June, it was not extended, which had raised some questions. “It was heartbreaking,” assured Urios.

“Beyond his remarkable performance in the semi-finals and the quality of the guy, it was tough. But at the same time, he had decided to stop his career, even if the phone rang strangely after the semi-final. We were afraid it would be one year too many, ”he said. A time in search of an additional third line, the UBB finally abandoned this track.

Before the resumption of the Top 14, the Bordelais will play a second and last preparation match against the Pau Section, Thursday (7 p.m.).