Qualified for the final of the Champions Cup for the first time in its history after its success 35-18 against Toulouse, the Union Bordeaux-Bègles will challenge the English of Northampton. A meeting that promises to be opened between two teams with several similarities.
“You have to have wooden televisions so as not to see that Northampton and Bordeaux play rugby well. I hope you went to LED, the new generation, to realize the quality of these teams.” Ugo Mola quipped when A journalist asked him on the sidelines of the semi-final of champion Cup if the identity of the finalists surprised him. “It’s a little unprecedented poster, but I think Bordeaux has done everything to access it”extended the manager of Stade Toulousain.
The last square in the continental competition offered two crazy games. This Sunday, the Union Bordeaux-Bègles therefore had the title holder of the Toulouse title after a sublime part (35-18). Northampton, for its part, imposed himself 37 to 34 in Dublin against the Leinster in An indecisive meeting until the last second.
“I think that this final between Bordeaux and Northampton, not many people expected it. You have to stay very vigilant, because Northampton was still able to go to Leinster, which had put two beautiful spankings before, during the eighth and quarters (62-0 against the Harlequins and 52-0 against Glasgow).delivered Louis Bielle-Biarrey, author of a double during this epic semi-final.
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Duels in all directions
The Duel des Homes between Maxime Lucu-Matthieu Jalibert and Alex Mitchell-Fin Smith, two rockets on both sides with Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Tommy Freeman, this Henry Pollock Diablottin to contain in the middle of all this … This final looks spectacular and fans present at the Principality Stadium of Cardiff May 24 at 2:45 p.m. will certainly have it for their money. “We watched the other semi-final together. They also achieved a small feat. It is a team that is very playful who, I find, looks like us a little. She also has a fairly mobile before and three-quarters who are pretty good, all in a well-oiled game system. It will be interesting to see this opposition”commented Matthieu Jalibert after the qualification of the UBB.
In terms of marked points and tests, advantage at UBB in the competition this season (342 points against 271 and 50 trials at 39). The two teams play a lot of balloons in hand (944 for the English against 814 among the French) and if the Bordelais crossed more (102 against 76), their future opponents beat more defenders (213 to 181). Bordeaux wins more turnovers (75 against 61) and given his faculty to be effective in counterattacks, this will be one of the Girondin assets for this final.
At the individual level, statistics are also tight. The top five markers in the competition this season are in the ranks of the finalists. Damian Penaud is twelve tests, Tommy Freeman in Neuf, Louis Bielle-Biarrey at eight, Henry Pollock at seven and Juarno Augustus at five. The two house scorers, at the end of Smith and Matthieu Jalibert, each put 71 points. Damian Penaud (21) is the best crossing just in front of Tommy Freeman (19). On the other hand, the back of the British James Ramm beat more defenders than Damian Penaud (30 to 29). But, out of the ankle against Toulouse, will the former ASM hold his place in front of the saints? This would be a weight loss for the unionists … This season, their three-quarter wing broke the trial record on a champions cup edition.
Icon Sport – Hugo Pfeiffer
From now on, we should only think: try to fill the cupboard with trophy
In the Premiership, the saints point to a disappointing seventh place for a title holder. But in champions cup, their season is affecting, for the moment to the sublime. They lost only one meeting against a dying French stadium (45-35). Otherwise the English finished first in pool B before scattering Castres, in chickens (38-8) then in the quarter-finals (51-16), like ASM in eighth (46-24). “We will analyze them well. We have three weeks to see their strengths and weaknesses. And as we have done today, we will have to establish a most precise plan that we will try to respect over 80 minutes”resumed Matthieu Jalibert.
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This will be the first European final of the Union Bordeaux-Bègles, but this group now has the experience of such an appointment after having played that of Top 14 in 2024 (reverse 59 to 3). “We have to tell ourselves that this will be a very very hard match. Given the last final we have made, I don’t think we have lessons to give to who it is in relation to the preparations of this kind of match. We will have to stay ourselves, be well concentrated, serious and then I think everyone will want to play it”Louis Bielle-Biarrey said.
“Yes, we have experience but, I often say, it will be a different match against an Anglo-Saxon teamfinished the opener. We still have a little time to prepare this match, but it’s exciting. I think, from now on, we should only think: try to fill the cupboard with trophy. “ If Ugo Mola did not give a favorite for this attractive final, he, on the other hand, chose his camp: “I will be supported by the French club in the final of the Champions Cup!”
