This cry from Maxime Lucu came from the heart, after finally releasing the ball to close the game. At the end of a crazy match, the Bordelais won on the Clermont pitch (35-40) this Friday evening. For this last match of 2023 for both teams, there was a spectacle with eight tries and a lot of suspense. The Auvergnats saw victory escape them on Pete Samu’s successful try (78th) and can harbor disappointments in a pivotal match for them.
Second defeat in Michelin for the Jaunards, who perhaps missed the top of the table (8th, 4 points from 7th which has one game less). UBB suffered but leaves with a 6th consecutive success and a provisional 2nd place in the ranking. Far from being perfect, Yannick Bru’s men rode their current streak to end 2023 well.
No Penaud or Bielle-Biarrey, Tambwe is responsible for lighting the fuse
The Stade Marcel-Michelin was treated to a spectacular but very disjointed match, also due to a big rotation on both sides (7 changes for UBB and 8 for ASM compared to the 10th day). Without the men who made its success in recent weeks (Damian Penaud, Matthieu Jalibert, Louis Bielle-Biarrey), left to rest, the Girondins were able to count on Madosh Tambwe to light the fuse. The winger scored a double (9th, 24th) on two lightning counter-attacks to start a match where it was not good to leave balls to these confident Bordeaux players.
Clermont – UBB, in top 14
Credit: Getty Images
The winger then faded throughout the game where his team, like those on the other side of the field, never seemed to control the course of the game. After its good start to the match, the UBB then collapsed under the penalties which gave rise to a yellow card (Ugo Boniface, 36th) which was costly. Two tries for ASM at 15 against 14, in force with Etienne Falgoux (37th) then in speed with Julien Heriteau (45th), to restart everything.
Clermont goes back in front before scuttling itself
Faced with so much indiscipline (15 penalties whistled against Bordeaux) and lack of control in occupation and camp exits, Clermont did not give up. Christophe Urios’ men even seriously began to believe in it by taking the lead on the scoreboard at the hour mark on Bautista Delguy’s try transformed by an Anthony Belleau at the height of the event (60th).
But the chase continued between the two scorers. Author of a match of international quality (100% on the feet, 20 points), Maxime Lucu continued to keep his team ahead in the score but also in the game where his experience made up for the absences of size. Just like the way they started their match, the Bordelais concluded it successfully. Following a dismissal from his team, Pete Samu took advantage of the favorable rebound and a lack of communication from Clermont to leave and offer victory to UBB (78th). Proof that even with a reshuffled team and a match that was not very controlled, these Bordeaux players are formidable. They are coming full force around 2024.