Six-try Bordeaux hold off Munster to reach last four

BBC News

12-04-2025

Bordeaux (29) 47Tries: Penaud, Lucu, Samu, Echegaray, Lamothe, Bielle-Biarey Cons: Jalibert 3, Lucu Pens: Jalibert 3Munster (10) 29Tries: Nankivell, Smith 2, penalty try Con: Crowley 2 Pen: Crowley
Bordeaux scored six tries to hold off stubborn Munster at Stade Chaban-Delmas and reach the Investec Champions Cup semi-finals. After the high of edging past La Rochelle in a last-16 classic last weekend, Munster were blown away by a devastating Bordeaux attack in the first half as Damian Penaud, Maxime Lucu, Pete Samu and Jon Echegaray all crossed.To their credit, Munster battled through a sluggish display and scored four tries through Alex Nankivell, Stephen Smith (2) and a penalty try.However, the half-time deficit proved too big to overcome as Maxime Lamothe and Louis Bielle-Biarrey ensured Bordeaux's progression despite Cyril Cazeaux's dismissal for two yellow card offences. Bordeaux, who have never won the Champions Cup, will face the winners of Sunday's quarter-final between Toulouse and Toulon (15:00 BST), guaranteeing French representation in the final for the sixth season running.
Having conjured immense emotion and belief to down a La Rochelle unit coached by Munster icon Ronan O'Gara, producing another vintage display in the south of France was always going to be difficult for the Irish province.And so it proved. Munster looked tired and sloppy, and as their line-out deserted them, Bordeaux took full advantage and effectively put the result beyond doubt after 33 minutes.Louis Bielle-Biarrey, the Six Nations player of the tournament, was reinstalled to the Bordeaux line-up after missing last week's win over Ulster.However, it was another prolific France wing who got the hosts up and running as Penaud latched on to Matthieu Jalibert's grubber kick to finish in the corner for his 12th try in this season's competition.From there, Penaud - whose stunning haul in this campaign includes a six-try display against the Sharks - turned provider. First, he left the Munster defence in his wake to set up Lucu before teeing up Samu, who finished off a flowing Bordeaux move in style. Echegaray quickly added a fourth, and while Munster appeared shell-shocked, Nankivell marked his return from suspension with a much-needed try to give the Irish side a glimmer of hope. More to follow.
Line-ups
Bordeaux: J Echegaray; D Penaud, Y Moeffana, J Van Rensburg, L Bielle-Biarrey; M Jalibert, M Lucu (capt); J Poirot, M Lamothe, B Tameifuna; A Coleman, C Cazeaux; M Diaby, G Petti, P Samu.Replacements: C Sa, M Perchaud, S Falatea, P Bochaton, M Gazzotti, B Vergnes-Taillefer, Y Lesgourgues, P Uberti.Sin-bin: Cazeaux (46), Echegaray (67)Munster: T Abrahams; C Nash, T Farrell, A Nankivell, A Smith; J Crowley, C Casey; J Wycherley, D Barron, O Jager; J Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (capt); P O'Mahony, J Hodnett, G Coombes.Replacements: N Scannell, M Donnelly, S Archer, F Wycherley, T Ahern, C Murray, S O'Brien, A Kendellen.Sin-bin: Ahern (54), Kendellen (63)Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)