Saints need team effort to stifle 'electric' Louis

NORTHAMPTON and Bordeaux Begles are great at- tacking sides, and that is what makes the European Cup final on Saturday at the Principality Stadium such an intriguing prospect.

- JEREMY GUSCOTT

Both teams are stacked with talent, and Bordeaux have one of the most exciting players in the world in France winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey, while Northampton have one who is hot on his heels in his England counterpart Tommy Freeman.

It is defence, however, that is always the key to winning titles - and it was the way in which Northampton tackled Leinster to a standstill, and Bordeaux did a similar job on Toulouse, that secured their passages to the final. It’s why, despite the attacking prowess of both clubs, defence will probably again prove crucial to the outcome in Cardiff.

Northampton have had a below par Premiership season this time, after showing brilliant form to win the title last season. It saw many of the Saints backs make England breakthroughs, with Freeman scoring tries, George Furbank claiming the 15 shirt, Fin Smith coming through at fly-half, Ollie Sleightholme getting picked on the wing, and Fraser Dingwall putting himself in the frame at centre.

This campaign has seen Furbank sidelined for months by injury, and they have also missed the presence of Courtney Lawes and Lewis Ludlam in the pack. Even so, despite a disappointing domestic record, they have risen to the occasion in Europe, beating Castres, the Bulls (away), Munster and Clermont, in the pool stage, before putting Castres away again in the quarter-final, and Leinster in the semis.

There’s no doubt that the biggest single danger to them becoming European champions is Bielle-Biarrey. I don’t think anyone who knows the game believes that he is just a gas-man. He’s elusive, springy, elastic, and tough despite only weighing 80kg (12st 8lbs).

He will jackal if he can and he’s decent under the high ball. He’s defensively pretty sound despite occasionally being run over.