Investec Champions Cup Last-16 Preview: Bordeaux-Begles Vs. Ulster Rugby
Investec Champions Cup Last-16 Preview: Bordeaux-Begles Vs. Ulster Rugby
Investec Champions Cup last-16 knockout match preview sees Union Bordeaux Begles host Ulster Rugby at Stade Chaban-Delmas in a key matchup.
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This kicks off what could be a show of force for a French club rugby Friday that is one of the tournament’s three key favorites, Union Bordeaux-Begles.
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Welcoming pool opponent Ulster Rugby to town, UBB enters this clash as the heavy favorites, and for good reason.
Having already defeated their Irish rivals 40-19 on the road with a rotated squad, UBB has every right to think Sunday’s fixture will be a runaway win.
Ulster, however, is a vastly different proposition to the side it was back then, due in large part to the return of several key players from injury.
Three of their most dynamic players, Cormac Izuchukwu, Robert Baloucoune and Iain Henderson, are out for this clash. Head coach Richie Murphy is able to call upon Irish internationals John Cooney, Jacob Stockdale, James Hume and Tom Stewart.
Combining this with the development of Murphy’s son Jack at fly-half, backrows James McNabney and David McCann and tighthead prop Scott Wilson, to name a few, and you get the sense of a different team.
Linked to these returning players has been a clear uptick in form, with Ulster winning its last three fixtures.
While all of these developments undoubtedly will make Murphy’s squad a tougher nut to crack, UBB has indicated that it feels confident of the result by making a few key changes.
Headlining the changes, Bordeaux has opted to rest Six Nations player of the tournament and arguably the best finisher in world rugby, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, for the fixture.
Other changes to the squad include Irish international Joey Carbery getting the start ahead of Mathieu Jalibert at fly-half.
While the risk of hubris has bitten this squad previously, most notably in a quarterfinal loss at home to Harlequins last season, it takes more than a squint to see an Ulster win in this fixture, even if things are closer. Bordeaux by 15.
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