Champions Cup: Jalibert and Penaud absent to face Harlequins in the quarter-final

Bordeaux-Bègles, which does not wish to take any risks in view of the end of the season, has decided to do without its fly-half Matthieu Jalibert and its winger Damian Penaud for the quarter-final of the Champions Cup on Saturday against Harlequins.

Jalibert, who is recovering from a left knee injury, participated in the establishment of the UBB on Friday in Chaban and even took a penalty shootout, AFP noted on site. “Matthieu, it’s a medical decision,” explained Thibault Giroud, UBB performance director. We don't want to take any risks. If it had been a European Cup or Top 14 final, obviously Matthieu would have played. Now, there are a lot of big matches left, we don't want to make a mistake and take the risk of blowing up Matthieu and not having him for weeks.

The number 10 will once again be worn by Matéo Garcia, who was voted man of the match against the English champions last weekend. For his part, winger Damian Penaud will be absent against Harlequins. “For Damian, we will make the decision tomorrow (Saturday). He took a crutch against Saracens, it takes a little time to resolve so it's a little complicated. It will be the same policy (as with Jalibert), we will not take any risks with Damian if he is not 100%,” Giroud explained. But the international winger is not in the squad to face the Quins.

He will be replaced by Pablo Uberti. Compared to the winners of Sarries (45-12) in the round of 16, another change was made in the starting XV. The left pillar Jefferson Poirot, injured in the neck, leaves his place to the Georgian Lekso Kaulashvili.

The composition of the UBB: Buros - Uberti, Depoortère, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey - Garcia, Lucu - Tatafu, Samu, Miquel - Coleman, Cazeaux - Tameifuna, Lamothe, Kaulashvili

The replacements: Maynadier, Boniface, Sadie, Douglas, Petti, Vergnes-Taillefer, Lesgourgues, Tambwe.