After a heart-stopping quarter-final victory over the formidable Leicester Tigers at Stade Chaban-Delmas, Maxime Lucu shared insights into his team's journey and the emotional toll of a key player's injury. With the sun high and the crowd buzzing, Lucu expressed a deep sense of pride. "To find this stadium again on a Sunday, after midday, in full sunshine with the atmosphere that goes with it... honestly, a lot of pleasure and a lot of pride to continue the adventure and spend one more week in it," he stated.
Despite a rocky start, UBB found their footing as the match progressed. "We had a little difficulty in the first 10 minutes getting into the match," Lucu admitted. The preparation, he revealed, was meticulous, aimed at leveraging their formidable forwards to break through Leicester's defenses. "We had prepared very carefully for this Leicester side, because they were third in the Premiership and on a fine run. We wanted to build this match with real purpose," he explained.
"We have grown"
Lucu pointed to the lessons learned from past European campaigns, particularly a tough match against Clermont two years ago, as pivotal in their growth. "Knockout rugby, particularly in the European Cup, teaches you a great deal," he reflected. This growth was evident in their strategic play, which after initial struggles, saw them exploiting one-on-one duels and playing behind the gain line, leading to a break in the game.
The upcoming challenge against Toulouse looms large, a team they are familiar with from previous high-stakes encounters. "They are beyond description," Lucu said, acknowledging the daunting task ahead. "When you see the armada that is going to arrive, as I say, we are going to have to play a near-perfect match, because against them the slightest error will be costly."
However, the victory was bittersweet due to the injury of Rohan Janse van Rensburg, an essential player whose season ended abruptly. "We have a thought for him, because these are injuries that are not easy to accept," Lucu expressed, highlighting the impact of such losses on the team's morale and preparations.
Lucu also praised Salesi Rayasi, who has adeptly filled the full-back position. "He is a little unpredictable. He is also very powerful, so in a one-on-one against him, when you throw yourself in, he can, like all Fijians, get out of the tackle and free his arms," he noted, adding a layer of strategic complexity to their gameplay.
As the team prepares for the next hurdle, the ethos remains clear: a near-perfect match is the goal. "We will see what happens next Sunday. But if we are to go through, we will have to play a near-perfect match," Lucu concluded, setting the stage for another epic showdown in the heart of European rugby.
349 posts
After a heart-stopping quarter-final victory over the formidable Leicester Tigers at Stade Chaban-Delmas, Maxime Lucu shared insights into his team's journey and the emotional toll of a key player's injury. With the sun high and the crowd buzzing, Lucu expressed a deep sense of pride. "To find this stadium again on a Sunday, after midday, in full sunshine with the atmosphere that goes with it... honestly, a lot of pleasure and a lot of pride to continue the adventure and spend one more week in it," he stated.
Despite a rocky start, UBB found their footing as the match progressed. "We had a little difficulty in the first 10 minutes getting into the match," Lucu admitted. The preparation, he revealed, was meticulous, aimed at leveraging their formidable forwards to break through Leicester's defenses. "We had prepared very carefully for this Leicester side, because they were third in the Premiership and on a fine run. We wanted to build this match with real purpose," he explained.
"We have grown"
Lucu pointed to the lessons learned from past European campaigns, particularly a tough match against Clermont two years ago, as pivotal in their growth. "Knockout rugby, particularly in the European Cup, teaches you a great deal," he reflected. This growth was evident in their strategic play, which after initial struggles, saw them exploiting one-on-one duels and playing behind the gain line, leading to a break in the game.
The upcoming challenge against Toulouse looms large, a team they are familiar with from previous high-stakes encounters. "They are beyond description," Lucu said, acknowledging the daunting task ahead. "When you see the armada that is going to arrive, as I say, we are going to have to play a near-perfect match, because against them the slightest error will be costly."
However, the victory was bittersweet due to the injury of Rohan Janse van Rensburg, an essential player whose season ended abruptly. "We have a thought for him, because these are injuries that are not easy to accept," Lucu expressed, highlighting the impact of such losses on the team's morale and preparations.
Lucu also praised Salesi Rayasi, who has adeptly filled the full-back position. "He is a little unpredictable. He is also very powerful, so in a one-on-one against him, when you throw yourself in, he can, like all Fijians, get out of the tackle and free his arms," he noted, adding a layer of strategic complexity to their gameplay.
As the team prepares for the next hurdle, the ethos remains clear: a near-perfect match is the goal. "We will see what happens next Sunday. But if we are to go through, we will have to play a near-perfect match," Lucu concluded, setting the stage for another epic showdown in the heart of European rugby.