It is “the defense that will make us win” against Harlequins on Saturday in the Champions Cup, said Bordeaux-Bègles winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey on Friday, before this match announced as “very offensive and totally different” from the one won against at Saracens in the round of 16.
“We played a Saracens team which was in the kicking game and the pressure game while the Harlequins team is a little more like us, with very talented players,” explained LBB, author of a double on the weekend -last end against the Sarries (45-12).
“It’s going to be a very big challenge, with two very offensive teams. We will want to reveal our offensive palette, the weather will be nice, it is the quarter-finals, Chaban should be full but it is certain that we will have to be very serious in defense because they will have the same desire to play . We must not forget the defense, it is what will make us win the match,” he warned.
“Harlequins have very strong individuals, they have number 12 (Andre Esterhuizen), Marcus Smith, they are players who should not be given too much space. It’s our defense, our discipline that will make the difference. This is what wins matches in the final stages,” he added, recalling that “we will also have to stay serious and respect the game otherwise it will become hurray-rugby”.
Friday, at the end of the implementation of the UBB, Bielle-Biarrey trained exceptionally on penalties. “That’s just in case,” he said with a smile. There are all eventualities. We can go to penalties, which we don’t hope for, but we have to be ready. I hope I don’t have to do it tomorrow (Saturday).”
If this is the case, “it is the team which has the best scorers which will pass, the one which has those which manage the pressure best. We saw it two years ago with Toulouse (victory at Munster 4-2 tab). It is also a test which can be decisive and playing a season on penalties, it is better to at least be prepared,” concluded the international winger.
