Union Bordeaux-Bègles thrashed Racing 92 64-5 on Saturday. Four days later, the medical bulletin and the disciplinary committee are reminding them that the night came at a cost.

Three weeks for Pkhakadze

Lasha Pkhakadze, 22, was shown an orange card in the 17th minute of his first Top 14 game for Bordeaux, for a dangerous clear-out. The LNR (French professional league) disciplinary committee turned the sanction into a three-week ban.

The club still has to put him through the head contact coaching programme, which could reduce the ban to two weeks.

The loss comes at a bad time. UBB were already actively looking for a front-row medical joker before this sanction, and Noel McNamara admitted he feared a headache at scrum time.

Woki hurts his hand

The other absentee is more unexpected. Cameron Woki injured a hand in the same game, even though several observers had named him player of the round after a thunderous start.

His last season shows what UBB are losing for Sunday: 21 Top 14 games, 19 starts, 1,502 minutes. He is the most used player in the Bordeaux back row.

Five more receiving treatment, one return

The club’s bulletin also lists Zaccharie Affane (shoulder), Jefferson Poirot (knee), Rohan Janse van Rensburg (ankle), and Ben Tameifuna and Adam Coleman (shoulders). Jean-Luc du Preez remains in concussion protocol, with no final medical verdict.

There is some good news all the same: Temo Matiu, who missed Round 1 with a back injury, returned to full training on Wednesday and is in contention for the trip to Ernest-Wallon.