Top 14: UBB hand Racing 92 a merciless thrashing

Racing 92 barely appeared in the opening Top 14 clash of the season. At Chaban-Delmas, Union Bordeaux-Bègles tore through the visitors in a 10-1 rout that left no doubt about the gap between the teams.

Bordeaux-Bègles had already scored five tries after half an hour and eight after 45 minutes. Racing, coached by Patrice Collazo, never looked as though it had returned from the dressing room, let alone from its holidays. The defeat became the club’s heaviest at UBB, while Collazo watched from the bench, visibly helpless as his team offered neither resistance nor movement.

The home side was driven by the halfback pairing of Maxime Lucu and Matthieu Jalibert, described as excellent once again. Cameron Woki and Tom Willis each scored twice, with Willis making his return to France. Louis Bielle-Biarrey added two tries in the final 20 minutes, using his pace to finish a performance that had already turned into a rout.

Bielle-Biarrey’s brace came minutes after UBB officially announced that he would remain with the club until 2029, prompting a fierce celebration among the home supporters. Seru Uru’s try for Racing in the 64th minute changed nothing. After last season’s embarrassing eighth-place finish, Bordeaux-Bègles opened the new campaign in dream fashion, raising hopes of a first Brennus Shield in the club’s history.