Latest news with #MatthieuJalibert
Telegraph
6 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Bordeaux fake news triggered backlash against Henry Pollock
Northampton have dismissed Bordeaux-Begles' claim that Henry Pollock dubbed the French side 'mercenaries' ahead of their Champions Cup showdown. The European final spilt over last Saturday as Pollock was involved in a scuffle at full-time with Jefferson Poirot. The former France prop has been cited for allegedly 'grasping the [back-rower's] throat in a way that was dangerous and had the potential to cause serious harm,' with a hearing set for Thursday. Tevita Tatafu, a back-rower at Bordeaux who did not feature in the final, was pictured mimicking Pollock's 'pulse' celebration in the Cardiff changing rooms after their 28-20 victory and then later holding a sign that read 'Pollock, calm down!' on the celebratory open-top bus. At full-time, Matthieu Jalibert, the Bordeaux and France fly-half, accused Pollock of disrespecting the French club and said that the back-rower had called them 'mercenaries' in the build-up. 'If someone could find that [mercenaries] quote, I'd be really interested, because that's certainly not something we have come across,' said Phil Dowson, Saints's director of rugby. 'From my point of view, I can only talk about what I said but I would back the playing group to the hilt in terms of their manner. We have been very complimentary about Bordeaux; their class and quality in terms of a playing group, but also as a club. 'I haven't seen any evidence, and neither has the media team here, that we have ever used that language – or even alluded to or inferred that. So I don't think that's necessarily fair. 'Now, what they are driving as a narrative behind the scenes is different and is entirely their prerogative, but I don't think anyone from this group has ever suggested that they are a group of mercenaries. Coaches pull on lots of levers. There have been lots of times when I've twisted different things and our group are firstly principled enough not to describe anyone like that and secondly not stupid enough to do it to motivate a group in a final. I don't think we're that dumb. We're media savvy and well managed in that space. 'Coaches and management will pull loads of levers in order to get a response and maybe that's what has happened.' After the final whistle in Cardiff, Jalibert told the BBC: 'I told [Pollock] that he didn't know our club. They said some things in the press which we didn't really appreciate. 'They said that we were a club of mercenaries who are here for the money. I just told him that he doesn't know our history, where we came from and that he must respect all clubs.' However, it seems now as though the 'mercenary' message could be construed as a cunning piece of motivation by Bordeaux's backroom team, led by their head coach, Yannick Bru, the former France hooker.
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Bordeaux Champions Cup victory based on method behind the flair
Bordeaux Begles were crowned the Investec Champions Cup winners after a dominant second half got them over the line. It's great for the competition to have another name on the trophy. Both Bordeaux and Northampton contesting a final meant that other European juggernauts were beaten, which brought excitement to the game. These two teams bring enough excitement on their own merit. They're two of the most free-flowing attacking teams when they get possession and fully deserved their place in the final. What was more surprising is that the second half finished 8-0 to the French side. Despite a frenetic start to the game by Northampton, and a 20-20 first half, Saints failed to score in the second half. Bordeaux average 17 points in the final quarter of games, yet they only scored eight points in the second half. It shows how finals can be different to the game played for most of the year. Pressure builds and the game goes from set-piece to set-piece with many turnovers in between. With the attacking flair and individual brilliance in the Bordeaux team, they haven't been getting the credit they deserve for their tactical awareness and ability to control the game. That's most likely due to the distraction of Matthieu Jalibert's spontaneous decision-making, and the speed of both wingers when they get possession from him. However, they won the game last weekend because of their kicking and rucking tactics. Their kicking certainly increased when they took a two-score lead in the second half. Every team would have done the same. They kicked off first phase and boxed Northampton into areas that made it much more difficult to launch any attack that was worthy of changing the momentum of the game. However, they kicked regularly throughout the game, maybe not always in a structured way, but they still used a strong kicking game to dominate proceedings. "Scrum-half Maxime Lucu was the puppet master of the whole game" Add to that the ruck pressure that they put the English champions under. Not only did it slow the Northampton attacking quality, but Bordeaux turned over many balls from their counter-rucking. It was a clear tactic from early in the game. It's funny that an attacking team can adopt 'negative' tactics in the game and nobody will call them out for it. If you put a different emblem or colour on the jersey, there would have been calls for less kicking. However, even when they could have kept possession in the final two minutes, Jalibert still kicked a cross-field pass to Damian Penaud. They're a class team with a strong identity and they back themselves fully. Still, it's worth recognising the balance of their game. Scrum-half Maxime Lucu (above) was the puppet master of the whole game. He took control in both 22 metre areas. He kicked long and even unorthodox at times from the base of the ruck. They chipped balls from the middle of the 22 in their own half. It was a clear exit strategy because defensive teams so often give up that space in the middle of the pitch, in favour of covering the sidelines and filling the front field to put pressure on their opposition. There were two distinct times when Lucu kicked a run-on wedge-type kick that Jalibert was fully committed to chasing. It's a brave tactic, and one that only a confident and progressive team will uphold during the pressure of a final. Jalibert may get the credit for flashes of brilliance in attack, but Lucu, man of the match, controlled which side of the ruck that the Bordeaux attack would go. He bounced left and right and never allowed the Northampton defence to settle or regain control. The Top 14 side should have won the game twice over with the amount of territory and entries that they had in the Northampton 22. Bernard Jackman shares the story of Louis Bielle-Biarrey's rise #InvestecChampionsCup 📱 Updates - 📺 Watch live - — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 24, 2025 Lucu guided his powerful and explosive forwards over the gain line around the ruck. There were times when you wondered how Northampton were stopping the Bordeaux surge at their line. The fact that they were able to survive the onslaught was a small victory in itself, not that it will mean much at this point. It's helpful to have individuals like Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Penaud. There are others in the pack like Pete Samu and Ben Tameifuna. The Bordeaux back line is star-studded. Yet, they still did basic things unbelievably well to grind out a deserving win throughout the second half of a tight contest. It would be thoughtless not to mention the two Irish contributors to the Champions Cup winners. Noel McNamara has done an excellent job since moving to Bordeaux. He must really be enjoying his time at the club with the talent at his disposal. There can be no excuse for not implementing your ideas when you've a team of highly skilled operators. There's no doubt that gelling and controlling a team with that level of individual flair must be difficult. McNamara (above) has contributed massively to their victory and his stock continues to rise. You'd have to wonder when the next Irish opportunity will open up for him. Joey Carbery didn't make it on the match-day squad for the final, which must be disappointing, no matter the result. However, he has made many positive contributions to this star-studded Bordeaux side across the season. Considering how his career stalled at the back end of his time with Munster, through injury and competition, it's great to see his resurgence. A fit and confident Carbery is a seriously attractive proposition to all the Irish provinces. It's back to domestic rugby from here, as Bordeaux continue to battle in the ultra-competitive Top 14. BKT URC action returns this weekend with more play-off excitement on the cards.
The 42
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Bordeaux overcome stubborn Saints to land first Champions Cup title
Northampton Saints 20 Union Bordeaux-Bègles 28 BORDEAUX-BEGLES ARE Champions Cup winners for the first time in their history, holding out to beat a doggedly determined Northampton Saints team in Cardiff. Bordeaux sprinkled the occasion with moments of brilliance as Northampton dug in to deliver a spirited, full-blooded performance. The sides were level after a gripping first half before a tense second period saw the Saints defend with their lives to keep in the contest. However their efforts ultimately came up short, with the English side failing to register a single point in the second period. Damian Penaud scored two first-half tries for Bordeaux, either side of Adam Coleman's try, while Cyril Cazeaux supplied their fourth after the break. Alex Coles was the source of Northampton's two tries, scoring at the start and close of the first half. Penalties from Bordeaux half-backs Matthieu Jalibert and Maxime Lucu also proved crucial as the French side – led by Irish attack coach Noel McNamara – capped a brilliant Champions Cup campaign with an historic victory. Northampton attacked the game from the off, swarming the Bordeaux 22 and moving the ball with speed and purpose. Within the opening two minutes they had landed the first blow, Coles barging over beside the posts with three defenders hanging off him, Fin Smith adding the conversion. It was a dream start for the Premiership team but adversity soon followed as James Ramm limped off with Ollie Sleightholme sent in as his replacement – coming off the bench to feature for the first time since December. The game rumbled along at a ferocious pace. Bordeaux's first foray into the Northampton end saw them power toward the line before the outstanding Lucu swung a long crossfield in the direction of Penaud, who jumped to compete in the air alongside Northampton's George Furbank. Neither player claimed the ball as they fell to ground, with Bordeaux fullback Romain Buros the next man on the scene. Buros' knee collided with Furbank's head as he chased the loose ball, resulting in a stop in play. Referee Nika Amashukeli saw no foul but the blow resulted in Furbank leaving on a stretcher after a long delay, meaning the Saints had lost two of their starting backs in the opening minutes. George Furbank leaves the pitch on a stretcher. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo The incident happened with Bordeaux on penalty advantage, and from the lineout they moved the ball the width of the pitch, with Matthieu Jalibert linking with Buros before Penaud got Bordeaux on the board – his try meaning he'd scored in all eight rounds of this competition. Jalibert's conversion struck the post. Bordeaux continued to look threatening, a knock-on on the deck from Smith inviting the French side to attack again. The scrum was solid and soon Bordeaux were breezing forward, Louis Bielle-Biarrey drifting across to link with Penaud, collecting the return pass to score. The celebrations were short-lived as Bielle-Biarrey's initial pass to his France teammate was clearly forward. Another warning shot, but Northampton survived. A second Bordeaux try felt inevitable and it arrived on 20 minutes, Jalibert dancing across a handful of defenders in the Saints 22 before popping a pass out to Coleman in the five-meter channel, leaving the big lock with a simple finish. Jalibert clipped over the extras to push Bordeaux into a 12-7 lead. Northampton soon cut the deficit as Smith landed a monster kick after Bordeaux had given away a penalty on the floor. Advertisement Bordeaux kept applying pressure, Jalibert doing brilliantly to free his hands before Penaud lost the ball in contact. From the scrum Bordeaux flooded in with numbers and forced another error, allowing Jalibert add his first penalty of the game. On the half hour mark Amashukeli went to the TMO to check a high hit from Bordeaux's Mahamadou Diaby on Saints' lock Temo Mayanavanua, landing on a yellow card for Diaby. Northampton's Alex Mitchell looks on as Louis Bielle-Biarrey kicks ahead. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO Northampton went to the corner and carries from Sleightholme and Coles brought them within striking distance before the ball was turned over, with Bordeaux then immediately doing the same after Penaud had broken free. Saints went again but struggled to find space against 14-man Bordeaux, eventually winning another penalty which allowed Smith size up the posts and cut the lead to just two points. When the game broke loose, Saints were left scrambling. Bielle-Biarrey did brilliantly to win possession in the air and boot the ball down the field. Penaud went after the bouncing ball and was caught in the air by Tommy Freeman, resulting in a yellow card for the Northampton winger. Bordeaux went searching for try number three from the lineout but were initially held out. The French side then moved the ball from left to right and while Jalibert saw a kick through blocked on the ground, the out-half managed to win possession back and send Penaud over for his second. Jalbert's conversion from the sideline drifted wide, but Bordeaux now led by seven with half-time fast approaching. Yet Northampton were hanging in and found a way to strike back with the clock in the red – a brilliant play that saw the ball move through the hands at speed before Coles bagged his second try. Smith's conversion was inch-perfect and somehow, despite those early Saints injury setbacks and all of Bordeaux's pressure, the sides went in level at 20-20. Alex Coles celebrates a try with Alex Mitchell. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO Having started and finished the first half strongly, Northampton came flying out of the traps after the restart, Henry Pollock – who had had limited opportunities with ball in hand – breaking through and fending Lucu to score two minutes into the second period. His pulled out a trademark celebration but a TMO review deemed the back row had held back Ben Tameifuna off the ball. Amashukeli was being kept busy and was back with the TMO as Ed Prowse saw yellow for a high hit on Yoram Moefana. Prowse jogged to the sideline as Lucu took over kicking duties to score the first three points of the second half. Bordeaux had the momentum again but Pollock came up with a huge turnover under his own posts to hold the Top 14 side out. It felt like a big moment but Bordeaux quickly forced the ball back into their own hands. A lineout followed and Bordeaux mauled forward, seemingly barreling over. It looked, and should, have been a try, but the replays showed the ball was lost as hooker Maxime Lamothe shoved his way over. The decision was no try, but a penalty for a leg lift by Northampton hooker Curtis Langdon. Back at the lineout, Bordeaux went to maul again but Tom Lockett produced a big intervention to turn the ball over – the latest in a series of massive Northampton defensive plays. Bordeaux appeared to be wilting but sparked back into life, and on 55 minutes they finally broke the Saints' resistance again – Cazeaux forcing a way through from close range, with Lucu's conversion just shaving the post as it sailed wide. Bordeaux's Cyril Cazeaux tackled by Northampton's Henry Pollock. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO The game was strictly being played in the Northampton half now but Bordeaux were being made work hard for everything. Entering the final quarter another Bordeaux maul drove toward the tryline but again, Saints managed to hold firm. The scrum provided Bordeaux with a second chance but Saints prop Emmanuel Iyogun won the scrum penalty under serious pressure. With less than 15 to play, Saints finally moved back into the Bordeaux 22 after winning a penalty for a collision in the air. The lineout was good and Sleightholme earned yards with a hard carry, but Bordeaux were patient in defence and won the ball back under their posts. They then turned defence into attack as Bielle-Biarrey went scampering after his own kick downfield, but Litchfield did well to get back and scoop up the ball. On 72 minutes Alex Mitchell was subject to a TMO review for catching Penaud's arm in the air – no card, but another Bordeaux penalty. They went to the corner, but Coles managed to get a hand to the ball in the air and force a knock-on. Northampton's defensive efforts couldn't be faulted, but their failure to score across the second 40 proved costly as Bordeaux celebrated a landmark day in the club's history. Northampton scorers: Tries – Coles (2) Conversions – Smith [2/2] Penalty – Smith [1/1] Bordeaux scorers: Tries – Penaud (2), Coleman, Cazeaux Conversions – Jalibert [1/3], Lucu [0/1] Penalties – Jalibert [1/1], Lucu [1/1] NORTHAMPTON SAINTS: George Furbank (Tom Litchfield, 6); Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall (capt), Rory Hutchinson, James Ramm (Ollie Sleightholme, 3); Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell; Emmanuel Iyogun (Tarek Haffar, 66), Curtis Langdon (Craig Wright, 61-73), Trevor Davison (Elliot Millar-Mills, 60); Temo Mayanavanua (Ed Prowse, 29), Tom Lockett (Angus Scott-Young, 61); Alex Coles, Josh Kemeny, Henry Pollock. Yellow cards: Freeman 35, Ed Prowse 44 BORDEAUX-BEGLES: Romain Buros (Arthur Retiere, 20); Damian Penaud, Nicolas Depoortere, Yoram Moefana (Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 73), Louis Bielle-Biarrey; Matthieu Jalibert, Maxime Lucu (capt); Jefferson Poirot (Ugo Boniface, 59), Maxime Lamothe (Connor Sa, 62), Sipili Falatea (Ben Tameifuna, HT); Adam Coleman (Pierre Bochaton, 50), Cyril Cazeaux; Mahamadou Diaby (Marko Gazzotti, HT), Guido Petti, Pete Samu (Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, 67). Yellow card: Diaby 29 Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GEO)
The Journal
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Journal
Bordeaux overcome stubborn Saints to land first Champions Cup title
The 42 Northampton Saints 20 Union Bordeaux-Bègles 28 BORDEAUX-BEGLES ARE Champions Cup winners for the first time in their history, holding out to beat a doggedly determined Northampton Saints team in Cardiff. Bordeaux sprinkled the occasion with moments of brilliance as Northampton dug in to deliver a spirited, full-blooded performance. The sides were level after a gripping first half before a tense second period saw the Saints defend with their lives to keep in the contest. However their efforts ultimately came up short, with the English side failing to register a single point in the second period. Damian Penaud scored two first-half tries for Bordeaux, either side of Adam Coleman's try, while Cyril Cazeaux supplied their fourth after the break. Alex Coles was the source of Northampton's two tries, scoring at the start and close of the first half. Penalties from Bordeaux half-backs Matthieu Jalibert and Maxime Lucu also proved crucial as the French side – led by Irish attack coach Noel McNamara – capped a brilliant Champions Cup campaign with an historic victory. Northampton attacked the game from the off, swarming the Bordeaux 22 and moving the ball with speed and purpose. Within the opening two minutes they had landed the first blow, Coles barging over beside the posts with three defenders hanging off him, Fin Smith adding the conversion. It was a dream start for the Premiership team but adversity soon followed as James Ramm limped off with Ollie Sleightholme sent in as his replacement – coming off the bench to feature for the first time since December. The game rumbled along at a ferocious pace. Bordeaux's first foray into the Northampton end saw them power toward the line before the outstanding Lucu swung a long crossfield in the direction of Penaud, who jumped to compete in the air alongside Northampton's George Furbank. Neither player claimed the ball as they fell to ground, with Bordeaux fullback Romain Buros the next man on the scene. Buros' knee collided with Furbank's head as he chased the loose ball, resulting in a stop in play. Referee Nika Amashukeli saw no foul but the blow resulted in Furbank leaving on a stretcher after a long delay, meaning the Saints had lost two of their starting backs in the opening minutes. George Furbank leaves the pitch on a stretcher. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo The incident happened with Bordeaux on penalty advantage, and from the lineout they moved the ball the width of the pitch, with Matthieu Jalibert linking with Buros before Penaud got Bordeaux on the board – his try meaning he'd scored in all eight rounds of this competition. Jalibert's conversion struck the post. Bordeaux continued to look threatening, a knock-on on the deck from Smith inviting the French side to attack again. The scrum was solid and soon Bordeaux were breezing forward, Louis Bielle-Biarrey drifting across to link with Penaud, collecting the return pass to score. The celebrations were short-lived as Bielle-Biarrey's initial pass to his France teammate was clearly forward. Another warning shot, but Northampton survived. A second Bordeaux try felt inevitable and it arrived on 20 minutes, Jalibert dancing across a handful of defenders in the Saints 22 before popping a pass out to Coleman in the five-meter channel, leaving the big lock with a simple finish. Jalibert clipped over the extras to push Bordeaux into a 12-7 lead. Northampton soon cut the deficit as Smith landed a monster kick after Bordeaux had given away a penalty on the floor. Bordeaux kept applying pressure, Jalibert doing brilliantly to free his hands before Penaud lost the ball in contact. From the scrum Bordeaux flooded in with numbers and forced another error, allowing Jalibert add his first penalty of the game. On the half hour mark Amashukeli went to the TMO to check a high hit from Bordeaux's Mahamadou Diaby on Saints' lock Temo Mayanavanua, landing on a yellow card for Diaby. Northampton's Alex Mitchell looks on as Louis Bielle-Biarrey kicks ahead. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO Northampton went to the corner and carries from Sleightholme and Coles brought them within striking distance before the ball was turned over, with Bordeaux then immediately doing the same after Penaud had broken free. Saints went again but struggled to find space against 14-man Bordeaux, eventually winning another penalty which allowed Smith size up the posts and cut the lead to just two points. When the game broke loose, Saints were left scrambling. Bielle-Biarrey did brilliantly to win possession in the air and boot the ball down the field. Penaud went after the bouncing ball and was caught in the air by Tommy Freeman, resulting in a yellow card for the Northampton winger. Bordeaux went searching for try number three from the lineout but were initially held out. The French side then moved the ball from left to right and while Jalibert saw a kick through blocked on the ground, the out-half managed to win possession back and send Penaud over for his second. Jalbert's conversion from the sideline drifted wide, but Bordeaux now led by seven with half-time fast approaching. Yet Northampton were hanging in and found a way to strike back with the clock in the red – a brilliant play that saw the ball move through the hands at speed before Coles bagged his second try. Smith's conversion was inch-perfect and somehow, despite those early Saints injury setbacks and all of Bordeaux's pressure, the sides went in level at 20-20. Advertisement Alex Coles celebrates a try with Alex Mitchell. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO Having started and finished the first half strongly, Northampton came flying out of the traps after the restart, Henry Pollock – who had had limited opportunities with ball in hand – breaking through and fending Lucu to score two minutes into the second period. His pulled out a trademark celebration but a TMO review deemed the back row had held back Ben Tameifuna off the ball. Amashukeli was being kept busy and was back with the TMO as Ed Prowse saw yellow for a high hit on Yoram Moefana. Prowse jogged to the sideline as Lucu took over kicking duties to score the first three points of the second half. Bordeaux had the momentum again but Pollock came up with a huge turnover under his own posts to hold the Top 14 side out. It felt like a big moment but Bordeaux quickly forced the ball back into their own hands. A lineout followed and Bordeaux mauled forward, seemingly barreling over. It looked, and should, have been a try, but the replays showed the ball was lost as hooker Maxime Lamothe shoved his way over. The decision was no try, but a penalty for a leg lift by Northampton hooker Curtis Langdon. Back at the lineout, Bordeaux went to maul again but Tom Lockett produced a big intervention to turn the ball over – the latest in a series of massive Northampton defensive plays. Bordeaux appeared to be wilting but sparked back into life, and on 55 minutes they finally broke the Saints' resistance again – Cazeaux forcing a way through from close range, with Lucu's conversion just shaving the post as it sailed wide. Bordeaux's Cyril Cazeaux tackled by Northampton's Henry Pollock. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO The game was strictly being played in the Northampton half now but Bordeaux were being made work hard for everything. Entering the final quarter another Bordeaux maul drove toward the tryline but again, Saints managed to hold firm. The scrum provided Bordeaux with a second chance but Saints prop Emmanuel Iyogun won the scrum penalty under serious pressure. With less than 15 to play, Saints finally moved back into the Bordeaux 22 after winning a penalty for a collision in the air. The lineout was good and Sleightholme earned yards with a hard carry, but Bordeaux were patient in defence and won the ball back under their posts. They then turned defence into attack as Bielle-Biarrey went scampering after his own kick downfield, but Litchfield did well to get back and scoop up the ball. On 72 minutes Alex Mitchell was subject to a TMO review for catching Penaud's arm in the air – no card, but another Bordeaux penalty. They went to the corner, but Coles managed to get a hand to the ball in the air and force a knock-on. Northampton's defensive efforts couldn't be faulted, but their failure to score across the second 40 proved costly as Bordeaux celebrated a landmark day in the club's history. Northampton scorers: Tries – Coles (2) Conversions – Smith [2/2] Penalty – Smith [1/1] Bordeaux scorers: Tries – Penaud (2), Coleman, Cazeaux Conversions – Jalibert [1/3], Lucu [0/1] Penalties – Jalibert [1/1], Lucu [1/1] NORTHAMPTON SAINTS: George Furbank (Tom Litchfield, 6); Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall (capt), Rory Hutchinson, James Ramm (Ollie Sleightholme, 3); Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell; Emmanuel Iyogun (Tarek Haffar, 66), Curtis Langdon (Craig Wright, 61-73), Trevor Davison (Elliot Millar-Mills, 60); Temo Mayanavanua (Ed Prowse, 29), Tom Lockett (Angus Scott-Young, 61); Alex Coles, Josh Kemeny, Henry Pollock. Yellow cards: Freeman 35, Ed Prowse 44 BORDEAUX-BEGLES: Romain Buros (Arthur Retiere, 20); Damian Penaud, Nicolas Depoortere, Yoram Moefana (Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 73), Louis Bielle-Biarrey; Matthieu Jalibert, Maxime Lucu (capt); Jefferson Poirot (Ugo Boniface, 59), Maxime Lamothe (Connor Sa, 62), Sipili Falatea (Ben Tameifuna, HT ) ; Adam Coleman (Pierre Bochaton, 50), Cyril Cazeaux; Mahamadou Diaby (Marko Gazzotti, HT), Guido Petti, Pete Samu (Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, 67). Yellow card: Diaby 29 Referee : Nika Amashukeli (GEO) Written by Ciarán Kennedy and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here .
Irish Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
French flair seals Champions Cup title for Bordeaux Bègles over Northampton Saints
Champions Cups final: Bordeaux Bègles 28 Northampton Saints 20 The Champions Cup has a new name on the trophy and a new major force in the European rugby. Strictly speaking, this well-run, superbly supported club have been the coming force for some years now and this spellbinding final merely confirmed the arrival of Bordeaux Bègles among the continent's elite. The ferocity of the collisions was matched by the ambition of both sides, although a slightly disjointed second period didn't match the wildly fluctuating end-to-end pattern of the first-half. As suspected might be the case, the competition's top seeds had a little too much physical power, as well as X factor, although Northampton didn't die wondering and their bravery against a superior force couldn't be faulted. Is French club rugby becoming more popular than Ligue 1? Listen | 20:26 The highlight reels were provided by Matthieu Jalibert and two of the world's best wingers Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Damian Penaud. READ MORE The latter added two more to his try tally, bringing him to 14 for the campaign, and duly received the Anthony Foley Trophy as the player of the tournament in the week when Axel's mother Sheelagh sadly passed away. The teams traded blow for blow in a first period which fulfilled the hype and the hopes to finish 20-20 before Bordeaux turned up their power game to full force. Perhaps fittingly, the match-winning try was provided by one of their unheralded heroes, lock Cyril Cazeaux, while Yoram Moefana maintained his potent season with another big game. Northampton Saints' Tommy Freeman and Bordeaux's Damian Penaud. Photograph: Adam Davy/PA There were warriors aplenty in the Saints too, not least Alex Coles, who was immense in their semi-final win over Leinster and here demonstrated his wide-ranging abilities by moving to blindside and scoring both Northampton tries, as well as being awesome in the lineout. The tournament is still not without its flaws, and will lack even more reach next season for the lack of interest from the main terrestrial TV companies in Ireland and the UK, but almost invariably the showpieces deliver. The prematch fire show under the enclosed Principality Stadium roof was spectacular and the atmosphere and darkened upper tiers obscured the few empty seats. Among the crowd was a fair sprinkling of Leinster blue and in the montage of tries from each of the previous finals there were a fair few cheers, and boos, for Leinster's scorers. But the loudest derision was for Saracens tries while, interestingly, the Bordeaux fans cheered triumphs by rival French sides. The prospect of a tryless final always seemed remote between these two sides who had scored 89 tries en route to this decider. Sure enough, that possibility lasted all of one minute and 51 seconds. Setting the helter skelter tone from the off, Pete Samu called for Fin Smith's wonky kick-off but knocked on and Northampton immediately went into overdrive with the ferocity of their straight carries before going wide. Northampton Saints' Fin Smith (left) and Henry Pollock after the game. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA Although Alex Mitchell was thumped backwards from his quick tap, they were playing with another advantage when Alex Coles finished adroitly from close range despite three tackles, Smith converting. As impressive was the Northampton defensive set after Jalibert's clever kick forced George Furbank to concede an attacking lineout. But, having already seen an injured James Ramm helped off, the Saints then lost Furbank as well inside the opening five minutes when the fullback was caught accidentally in the head by the knee of Romain Burros. When Bordeaux went to the corner although their drive was repelled, Yoram Moefana's big carry put him on the front foot for Jalibert and Burros to give Damian Penaud a routine finish. Bordeaux appeared to have struck again off a lovely strike play off a scrum, Jalibert pulling the strings, Louis Bielle-Biarrey came across from his wing and exchanged passes with Penaud to finish, but on review his initial pass was clearly forward. Bielle-Biarrey soon engineered another attacking lineout with a well-weighted kick in behind after again roaming over to the right. Although Moefana dropped the ball when launched, he left it behind hi, m, and Jalibert a danced a jig back toward the touchline, taking out five players before popping the ball for Adam Coleman to finish. Jalibert also landed the touchline conversion and then exchanged penalties with Smith before Mahamadou Diaby was binned for catching Temo Mayanavanua high. But although they initially probed after going up the line, Northampton ultimately had to settle for another three-pointer. Bielle-Biarrey was applauded sardonically after miscuing out on the full but you can't keep a great winger down for long. Soon he brilliantly regathered his own high kick and then kicked ahead again, the ball bouncing for Penaud to gather when he was tackled in the air by Tommy Freeman, sending him to the bin. Louis Bielle-Biarrey in action for Bordeaux. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho Again Bordeaux went to their drive and power play before Jalibert regained his own deflected grubber and offloaded for Penaud to beat Mitchell and score in the corner for his record-extending 14tth try in one Champions Cup campaign. However, after tighthead Trevor Davison won a key turnover penalty Northampton reprised one of their cleverly and accurately executed plays when sweeping back to the right where Tom Litchfield offloaded for Coles to score his second try. Smith, inevitably, landed the touchline conversion to make it 20-20 with the last kick of the half. You didn't that kind of vision to envisage this being that kind of wild yet evenly balanced final. On the resumption, Mitchell's kick gained the ground from which Henry Pollock appeared to have scored off a trick play at the front of a lineout but reviews showed Coles had tugged back Ben Tameifuna. Ed Prowse was then binned for a high hit on Moefana and Lucu elected for the three-pointer against 13 men. Bordeaux then had a try overruled after replays showed Maxime Lamothe had knocked on over the line before the Saints then repelled another drive off a penalty to the corner. That seemed like it might be significant but Bordeaux's mix power and pace was unrelenting as the benches became a factor, one big counter-ruck on halfway leading to Jalibert and Nicolas Depoortere released thur Retiere, an early replacement for Burros. The attack continued through multiple phases before Cazeaux, having been part of the initial counter-ruck, went through Ollie Sleightholme's tackle to score. Bordeaux Bègles captain Maxime Lucu. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho Even so Lucu, having taken over the kicking duties, missed Bordeaux's third conversion and after Moefana's big carry through the middle and two more penalties to the corner, once again they were defied by the Northampton pack. The Saints even launched a big attack on the Northampton line but a trailing leg disrupted Mitchell's pass from the base and after Jalibert, Bielle-Biarrey and Penaud led a footrush upfield, soon Bordeaux were looking to turn the screw again. Their kicking game mercilessly exposed Mitchell in the back left corner but the Saints' lineout defence, in the air and on the ground, was outstanding. But the clock kept ticking on their chances, and there was no doubting that, yet again, the Champions Cup was simply won by the best team in the competition. Scoring sequence – 2 mins: Coles try, Smith con 0-7; 6: Penaud try 5-7; 20: Coleman try, Jalibert con 12-7; 25: Smith pen 12-10; 29: Jalibert pen 15-10; 33: Smith pen 15-13; 37: Penaud try 20-13; 40: Coles try, Smith con 20-20; Half-time: 20-20 ; 45: Lucu pen 23-20; 56: Cazeaux try 28-20. BORDEAUX BÈGLES: R Buros; D Penaud, N Depoortere, Y Moefana, L Bielle-Biarrey; M Jalibert, M Lucu (capt); J Poirot, M Lamothe, S Falatea; A Coleman, C Cazeaux; M Diaby, G Petti, P Samu. Replacements: A Retiere for Burros (12 mins), B Tameifuna for Falatea, M Gazzotti for Diaby (both h-t), P Bochaton for Coleman (50), U Boniface for Poirot (59), C Sa for Lamothe (63), R Janse van Rensburg for Moefana (73), Yellow card: Diaby (30-40 mins). NORTHAMPTON SAINTS: G Furbank; T Freeman, F Dingwall (capt), R Hutchinson, J Ramm; F Smith, A Mitchell; E Iyogun, C Langdon, T Davison; T Mayanavanua, T Lockett; A Coles, J Kemeny, H Pollock. Replacements: O Sleightholme for Ramm (3 mins), T Litchfield for Furbank (5), E Prowse for Mayanavanua (30), E Millar-Mills for Davison (60), C Wright for Langdon, A Scott-Young for Lockyer (both 61), Langdon for Wright (73), T James for Mitchell (78). Yellow cards: Freeman (37-47 mins), Prowse (44-54). Referee: N Amashukeli (Geo).
