Champions Cup – The lesson of the weekend: the Union Bordeaux-Bègles master of its destiny

This 3rd day of the Champions Cup allowed us to distribute the first invitation cards for the final phase. There are already seven of them who are certain to participate in the spring festival, including three French clubs. French Rugby can begin to dream of a fifth consecutive coronation, especially since Union Bordeaux-Bègles and Stade Toulouse are neck and neck to win number one status.

Placed in the same group, the last two finalists of the Top 14 engage in an incredible mano a mano to finish first. The Girondins have just taken a serious option with an improved success on the Exeter pitch. Yannick Bru's men continue their success with fifteen points taken out of a possible fifteen after three days. The latter were well aware that their group, with the presence of the reigning champions, condemned them to aim for twenty out of twenty to obtain a first place and thus the possibility of receiving during the final phase until the semi-final, which is a significant advantage.

They also knew that they benefited from a slight help not to waste time with a program which sent the Toulouse residents to challenge the Sharks in South Africa. The Bordelais knew this better than anyone, having missed out on a flawless performance last season due to a trip to the Bulls where they had to settle for two bonus points. However, Romain Buros and his partners wanted to be wary before taking off for Exeter: “Finding ourselves in the Toulouse group, we knew that the bar would be high. It is certain that Stade Toulouse has the disadvantage this season of traveling to South Africa but we are counting on their victory against the Sharks given the squad which has gone there. It's up to us to collect as many points as possible. »

Leinster – Toulon, the other distance duel

Mission accomplished for the Bordelais who were nevertheless right with the victory of the Toulouse residents in Durban. But Antoine Dupont's teammates failed to take the bonus point at the end of their journey to the other hemisphere. So here is the UBB alone at the head of the group, with a small point in advance, before attacking the last day. The Union has its destiny in hand but the threat is not necessarily phantom because it will be necessary to impose with the offensive bonus against the Sharks to avoid seeing Ugo Mola's men overtake them at the post thanks to a better overall points difference.

The famous point average is still to the advantage of the reigning champions, with an incredible difference of +95 which the Bordelais did not manage to catch up despite their card against the Chiefs, who were beaten by an even heavier score than against the French champions. The UBB is still behind by eight small points with an equally frightening total of +87. Mind-blowing figures, compared to Leinster (+33) or Northampton (+29), yet already assured of being present in the round of 16 by being respectively at the head of groups 2 and 3.
Finally, Leinster took a serious advantage with its victory in La Rochelle to clinch the number 2 place. The Irish will host Bath to confirm, while the Toulonnais (+23), their main opponents, will have to travel to Sale.