Union Bordeaux Bègles travels to Ireland this Saturday to challenge Ulster during the 2nd day of the Champions Cup. A meeting that the UBB playing master, Matthieu Jalibert, will not play.
Carried by a sparkling Bielle-Barrey, UBB began its Champions Cup journey last Sunday in the best possible way by beating Leicester (42-28). An inaugural success which should reassure Yannick Bru in his ideas and increase the confidence of his troops before a trip this Saturday to Ireland to challenge Ulster. But the absence in the group of his opening half Matthieu Jalibert raises many questions, particularly following the recent episode with the France team where the international had already expressed the wish to leave the selection if his place of holder is not insured. Certainly, the current context is different and Jalibert, centerpiece of fifteen of the UBB, does not claim anything sporting from his manager. But this absence, which can be explained by a few days off on the Côte d’Azur since Tuesday, which he did not hesitate to share on the web, is not to the taste of certain supporters.
Without Jalibert and Buros
For Yannick Bru, Jalibert’s days of rest are justified since the opener who has ten appearances on the match sheets for nine starts has only missed the trip against Clermont since the start of the season, due to his presence with of the selection to challenge Japan. If Bielle-Barrey, who has also been in great demand for several months, has not had the same privilege, full-back Romain Buros will also be absent against Ulster this Saturday for medical reasons. Injured in a thigh during the international gathering, he will benefit from a longer period of recovery before returning to the UBB squad in a week for the Top 14 games.
It is therefore without Jalibert and Buros that Bordeaux-Bègles will challenge a vengeful Ulster team, after the big defeat against Toulouse on Sunday (21-61). But Damian Penaud’s partners remain largely favorites against a Northern Irish team which is only a shadow of the team which won the competition in 1999. Currently 10th in the Union Rugby Championship, Ultser’s team concedes an average of 31 points per match and struggles to be consistent, weighed down by defensive fragility and a glaring lack of combativeness and automatisms between the front and rear bases. Richie Murphy’s men nevertheless hope to do better than last season in this competition where they only won one match.
What time will the meeting take place?
The meeting between Ulster and Bordeaux-Bègles which will be led by Italian referee Gianluca Gnecchi will take place this Saturday at 4:15 p.m. at the Kingspan Stadium.
On which TV channel is Ulster – Bordeaux Bègles broadcast?
This match on the first day of the 2023/2024 Champions Cup will be broadcast jointly by France 2 and Bein Sport 1.
What streaming broadcast for this match?
To watch the match in streaming, you can connect to the Bein Connect platform or to the France TV platform (free).
The starting compositions
Ulster starting XV: 15. Mike Lowry; 14. Werner Kok, 13. Jude Postlethwaite, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. Zac Ward; 10. Aidan Morgan, 9. Nathan Doak, 7. Nick Timoney, 8. Dave McCann, 6. Cormac Izuchukwu; 5. Kieran Treadwell, 4. Iain Henderson (cap); 3. Tom O’Toole, 2. Rob Herring, 1. Eric O’Sullivan.
The starting XV of Bordeaux-Bègles : 15. Louis Bielle-Biarrey; 14. Damian Penaud, 13. Nicolas Depoortere, 12. Yoram Moefana, 11. Arthur Retiere; 10. Joey Carbery, 9. Maxime Lucu; 7. Lachie Swinton, 8. Tevita Tatafu, 6. Marko Gazzotti; 5. Jonny Gray, 4. Guido Petti; 3. Carlü Sadie, 2. Romain Latterrade, 1. Jefferson Poirot (cap)
The different coasts
Bordeaux-Bègles remains the clear favorite for this match on the 2nd day of the Champions Cup against Ulster
Bwin: Ulster 4.10 / Draw 17.00 / Bordeaux-Bègles 1.18.
Winamax: Ulster 4.00 / Draw 21.00 / Bordeaux-Bègles 1.16.
Unibet: Ulster 4.25 / Draw 25.00 / Bordeaux-Bègles 1.15.
Bet Sports: Ulster 4.65 / Draw 23.00 / Bordeaux-Bègles 1.16.