The hinge Maxime Lucu – Matthieu Jalibert, the pair of centers Yoram Moefana – Nicolas Depoortère, the wingers Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Damian Penaud in Marcoussis to prepare for the Six Nations Tournament: the UBB will have a very different face behind on the occasion of this false duplicate facing the Pink Soldiers.
“It’s a period that we experienced at the start of the season, we’re more or less used to it,” Buros said on Friday after putting his team in place. We had gotten used to having internationals but we know that we have to do without it, it allows players who have less playing time to play and express themselves. We have to find a positive side to that and perform without them. Their ghosts must not haunt us.”
Asked about the automatisms to be found in such a situation, the native of Aire-sur-l’Adour recognizes that “it changes a little bit when there are other players coming in. This is why we need to be better at communicating and work a little harder even if we had a week with little working time (after the Bulls match in South Africa) to have the maximum connections with the guys we’re going to play alongside. The automatisms, we will find them as with any player.
Called to replace Bielle-Biarrey on one wing, the young Maël Moustin, U20 world champion last summer, will make his big debut in the Top 14. Without apprehension and attentive according to Buros: “When I attacked as a pro (with Pau in 2015), I was happy that older people gave me some advice. I try to do the same with him for example,” recalls the Girondin full-back.
“Maël has never played professionally, it’s possible that he was targeted or something else,” he added. We make sure that he is in the best possible condition, that he does not have too much pressure either, because it is above all a rugby match. He has to enjoy himself because he has enormous qualities and we want him to show them without being inhibited.” Before this last day of the first leg, UBB is 2nd in the Top 14 with 3 points ahead of Stade Français (3rd).
