Champions Bordeaux Bègles are Out of the Ordinary

It needed something Out of the Ordinary from defending champions Bordeaux-Bègles to beat six-time champions Toulouse in the Investec Champions Cup quarter-final.

And on Sunday they delivered such a display in winning 30-15. The victors scored 25 unanswered points in the final 30 minutes.

Toulouse, led by Antoine Dupont are an exceptional side. They are loaded with French Test players and arguably the best loose-forward in Europe in England’s Jack Willis. They have the most accurate goalkicker in the sport in fullback Thomas Ramos and they have quality in every one of the 23 match-day players.

Photo: ©INPHO/James Crombie

To reiterate, to beat Toulouse requires something Out of the Ordinary, and Bordeaux are that team.

Maxime Lucu leads a team that does not have a vulnerability. Lucu, understudy to Dupont in the French Test team, took the lead against his national captain, who was reduced to a support act in a losing Toulouse effort.

Lucu, small in stature, was a giant in everything he did. He was named the Investec Champions Cup Player of the Match and he had the privilege of nailing closed Toulouse’s tournament coffin for this season with a penalty to take the score to 30-15. He also put the final touch kick, in the 81st minute, into the stands to end the match.

Outside of him, No 10 Matthieu Jalibert took the one-on-one honours against fellow France Test No 10 Romain Ntamack.

Every one-on-one match-up was a battle worthy of a rugby war. The collisions were a treat for the purist, the intensity was that of a final and the skill, balance and fearlessness matched the positivity in intent from both champion teams.

This match was a final between the two current best club teams in the sport.

This match showed why this is the toughest club rugby competition in the world and the hardest to win.

The competition is into its 31st season and Bordeaux, for all their star-power, are two matches away from just their second star, with their maiden win coming last season against Northampton Saints.

They also beat Toulouse in the semi-finals last season.

Photo: ©INPHO/James Crombie

Bordeaux will play Johann van Graan’s Bath in the semi-final, with Jacques Nienaber’s Leinster hosting Toulon in the other semi-final.

It means there will be South African representation in all four semi-final teams, be it coaches or players.

Bordeaux and Toulouse invest astutely in foreign imports and the majority of their respective squads are French.

This match was a victory for the power of French club rugby as much as it was for the seduction of the Investec Champions Cup.

There is so much talent within French rugby, in the midfield, on the wings, and in the pack.

Not to mention the halfbacks and at fullback.

There is not a rugby nation, South Africa included, that right now has as many world class No 9s.

There is also not a more popular prop forward in France than Bordeaux’s Tongan international ‘Big’ Ben Tameifuna.

Big Ben scored a special try in the last 16 demolition of Leicester and the most significant score in Sunday’s semi-final.

Bordeaux Bègles (5) 30

Tries: Lamothe, Jalibert, Tameifuna, Retiere Cons: Lucu 2 Pens: Lucu 2

Toulouse (12) 15

Tries: Ntamack, Thomas Con: Ramos Pen: Ramos

Bordeaux: 15 Salesi Rayasi, 14 Pablo Uberti, 13 Damian Penaud, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Maxime Lucu (captain), 8 Marko Gazzotti, 7 Cameron Woki, 6 Pierre Bochaton, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Boris Palu, 3 Carlü Sadie, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 1 Jefferson Poirot

Substitutes: 16 Gaetan Barlot, 17 Matis Perchaud, 18 Ben Tameifuna, 19 Tiaan Jacobs, 20 Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, 21 Temo Matiu, 22 Arthur Retiere, 23 Hugo Reus

Substitutes: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Kalvin Gourgues, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Matthis Lebel, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont, 8 Anthony Jelonch, 7 Jack Willis, 6 François Cros, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 David Ainu’u

Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Joel Merkler, 19 Joshua Brennan, 20 Leo Banos, 21 Théo Ntamack, 22 Paul Graou, 23 Blair Kinghorn

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