Clermont-UBB: Lucu as playing master, Clermont cracked... the tops and the flops

TOPS

To hope for a great match, the great players must be at the level. Friday evening, Maxime Lucu delivered a (very) high-level performance. Let’s start with the obvious, his kicking game. In a particularly close match, his flawless performance (8/8), synonymous with twenty points, was decisive in his team's success. But he was not content with this and was the launching pad for a good number of Gironde attacks. Always in good shape, he also harassed Bezy at the end of the scrum, preventing him from putting his team in battle order. As a symbol, it was he who cleared the ball into touch, signifying the end of the match. If Fabien Galthié was in front of his television, the coach of the XV of France must have appreciated the show.

Coming out of the closet last week against Lyon, the winger scored a try coming off the bench. Starting against Clermont, the Congolese remembered the good memories of the Auvergnats, against whom he had already scored a double last season. He did it again, and in what way! On his first try, he ridicules Raka with a devastating hook before flattening while trotting. For his second achievement, he concluded a collective work launched by his partner on the other wing, Pablo Uberti. Between Penaud, Uberti, Bielle-Barrey and Tambwe, Yannick Bru has a rich man's dilemma that many would like to be able to boast about.

Also read: Top 14: on video, Tambwe's masterful double with UBB

To say that rugby won on Friday evening would be cruel for the residents of Marcel-Michelin and its supporters, so we will refrain from doing so. However, the Auvergne copy rendered is far from ridiculous. From the 30th to the 70th, Christophe's men frankly dominated the Bordeaux team, signing strong attempts but also superb combinations. The defensive bonus point obtained probably does not do justice to the efforts made, while the systematic decision to go into touch before half-time, which paid off, demonstrated the pride of a voluntary team. The Jaunards will be able to rely on numerous elements shown on Friday evening to prepare for the trip to Stade Français next weekend.

FLOPS

In such a close match, every move can have serious consequences. Friday evening, the Clermontois realized it and in the worst way. While they had come back from an eight-point deficit at half-time, doing everything they could to ensure the victory of the match, a single action condemned them. While Belleau had just put them back in front, they let the ball bounce into their camp on the goal kick. An error that the Bordelais immediately punished, through Samu who made the attempt. Plisson, who missed his tackle, could perhaps have done better... In any case, the score then did not change, leaving a bitter regret in the mouths of Clermont.

By winning on Friday evening, the Bordelais did well. While they seemed to be in control of the match, taking up to fifteen points in advance in the first act, the Girondins let the fate of the match slip into their hands. A long gap of air, all the same, half an hour in the second half, which has already been seen this season. Symbol of this carelessness, Yannick Bru's men were inflicted with a severe 17-3 in the space of 22 minutes (45th, 67th). The story ended well, but the evening could have gone more smoothly with a little control.