UBB's Victory Marred by Jalibert's Injury
UBB secured a resounding victory against Oyonnax with a score of 40 to 7 during the 26th day of Top 14. This win not only validated Union Bordeaux-Bègles' ticket for a home play-off but also came with a foreboding shadow cast by the injury exit of their fly-half, Matthieu Jalibert. In the 74th minute, Jalibert, affected in the hamstrings of his left leg, had to be assisted off the field by Yannick Bru, the Gironde manager, and Thibault Giroud, the performance director. The same leg had troubled him during the Six Nations Tournament, and his visible discomfort suggested a significant concern for the Gironde club.
Coach Yannick Bru emphasized the need for medical examinations before determining Jalibert's availability. "We preserved him a lot this week in training. We'll see," he noted. Jalibert, who was initially supposed to be a substitute, had to start due to an injury to Louis Bielle-Biarrey. Adding to UBB’s woes are existing injuries to key players such as Nicolas Depoortère, Romain Buros, and Nans Ducuing. Jalibert's injury could be another significant blow ahead of their crucial play-off match against Racing 92.
Racing's Dramatic Escape
Racing 92 had a narrow escape from missing the final stages, a situation that could have been a first since their return to the elite in the 2009-2010 season. Racing was almost ousted by Castres Olympique, who won their match against Bayonne. However, Maxime Baudonne's last-minute try provided a defensive bonus that secured Racing a play-off spot despite losing 24-19 against Stade Rochelais.
The forthcoming play-offs will see Union Bordeaux-Bègles hosting Racing 92 at Chaban-Delmas Stadium due to UBB’s significant home victory over Oyonnax. Another crucial match will see Stade Rochelais facing off against Toulon, the 2023 European champion, at Stade Mayol.
- UBB’s Matthieu Jalibert will undergo medical examinations on Monday to determine the extent of his hamstring injury sustained during the match against Oyonnax. The injury has already cast doubts over his participation in the critical upcoming play-off against Racing 92.
- In the final stages of Top 14, the stakes were high as Racing 92 narrowly managed to secure their place in the play-offs through a critical defensive bonus point earned in their match against Stade Rochelais despite a 24-19 defeat. This ensured that Racing 92 remained above Castres Olympique who won their match against Bayonne.
