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Sometime France scrumhalf Maxime Lucu somehow turned a botched penalty opportunity into a successful drop goal in a bizarre incident last night in the Top 14.
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Seventh-placed Bordeaux faced off against Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle in fifth in a closely contested match at the Stade Marcel Deflandre. Both teams were evenly matched for the most part and put in strong performances, but it was Bordeaux who ultimately emerged victorious with a hard-fought 12-8 win.
The match got off to a tight start, with both teams trading blows in the early stages. Bordeaux took an early lead with a well-struck penalty kick, but La Rochelle responded with a try to level the score.
As the match wore on, Bordeaux began to assert their dominance, with some strong running and accurate kicking putting them in control of the game. La Rochelle fought back bravely, but Bordeaux’s defence held strong and they were able to secure a number of crucial turnovers.
However, it was a weird penalty kick by Lucu that caught the eye. Lucu struck the penalty attempt which hit an upright. It bounced down into the hands of a La Rochelle defender, who duly booted it back up the pitch, straight back into the hands of Lucu.
The sometimes France nine didn’t need to be asked twice and seeing space in front of him, dropkicked his missed kick right back over the bar, taking the unlikely second chance that fell into his lap.
#BoxingDayRubgy
Ne vous embêtez pas à commander un tee au Père Noël faites comme @LucuMaxime ?C'est tellement plus simple un drop ??Faites un don, 1€ = 1 repas ?? ? https://t.co/FRvB3dYRkf pic.twitter.com/dZHTKB2lSO
— TOP 14 Rugby (@top14rugby) December 24, 2022
Luca joined Bordeaux Begles in 2019, having signed from Biarritz where he’d been since 2014. He has since helped lead the team to numerous victories in the Top 14 and the European Rugby Challenge Cup. In addition to his club career, Maxime has also represented France at the international level, earning his first cap for the French national team in 2021. He has 10 caps to date.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments