Another battling show by Bordeaux

WHAT a great game last weekend's Champions Cup final turned out to be with both of the finalists, Northampton and Bordeaux Begles, rising to the occasion and putting on an 80-minute performance to rival any game we have seen this season.

- 

Both teams provided an almost packed Principality Stadium with a game that everyone will remember, especially the Saints fans, given the disastrous start Northampton suffered losing two players - James Ramm and George Furbank - to injury and conceding a try in the first five minutes of the match.

Despite that, the Saints managed to keep in touch with the dominant Bordeaux Begles team and managed to end the first half level at 20-all, despite the match seemingly a game too far for the Northampton team.

Sadly, as good as the Saints defence was, the constant pressure from Bordeaux meant it was only a matter of time before they would get the scores needed to take the lead. The game ended with Bordeaux Begles scoring four tries to Saints' two, but although Saints kicked more conversions than Bordeaux it was not enough particularly as Saints had two players yellow carded.

Bordeaux Begles have always been a team that attempt to dominate through physicality, which doesn't seem to have changed with the addition of the recent union with other clubs.

Back in 1992, new French coach Pierre Berbizier decided to pick two front row forwards, Philippe Gimbert and Vincent Moscato (who was also a successful boxer) from the Begles-Bordeaux club to face England in the Five Nations that year.