Bielle-Biarrey set for Top 14 final return after 'spectacular change' / Photo: Christophe ARCHAMBAULT - AFP/File
Bielle-Biarrey set for Top 14 final return after 'spectacular change'
Bordeaux-Begles head coach Yannick Bru said on Friday that winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey has experienced a "spectacular change" in concussion symptoms and will be able to feature in this weekend's French Top 14 final against Toulouse.
Bielle-Biarrey has scored 33 tries this season for his club and for France but has been sidelined with a head injury since June 7.
After last week's semi-final win over Toulon, Bru ruled the 22-year-old out of this Saturday's decider in Paris, but Bielle-Biarrey trained full with the team at the Stade de France on Friday.
"At the start of this week, he met a lot of specialists; he scored 10/10 in his neurological tests," Bru told reporters.
"The central question after that was 'Louis do you want to play?'
"He said 'It's out of the question that I don't play the final with my mates'.
"It's that journey that showed us quite quickly that Louis would be present.
"There was a spectacular change," former France hooker Bru said.
Bielle-Biarrey crossed for the last of his 13 league tries earlier this month, making him the Top 14's leading scorer this season.
He is expected to start on the wing outside another 22-year-old, centre Nicolas Depoortere.
"It's always tough to be out of the squad and miss games like that, a semi-final," Depoortere said.
"He comes back in time for the final.
"Having the top scorer in the Top 14 by our sides tomorrow is a plus," he added.
- 'No revenge' -
This weekend's game comes 12 months after Bordeaux-Begles suffered a record 59-3 hammering to Toulouse in last season's final.
Since then, Bru's side have beaten the record 23-time French champions on three straight occasions.
"We understand fully that this match will be presented as a revenge, but we've never talked about revenge," Bru said.
"That means stiffness, anger, things that blind you a little bit.
"On the contrary, in a final what's crucial is to have your eyes wide open," he added.
One of the victories came in the Champions Cup last four.
Three weeks later by Bordeaux-Begles lifted the continental crown, beating English club Northampton in the final athe Principality Stadium.
"It will stand for nothing," former Toulouse hooker and assistant coach.
"The Cardiff final is so far away, we were Champions Cup winners but it's behind us.
"We don't wake up and say 'We have to do the double' when we are having a shave.
"The double would be the consequence of something to show that we've evolved to be more consistent like Toulouse in a final," he added.
孫-H.Sūn--THT-士蔑報
