Bordeaux-Begles defeat holders Toulouse in a high-octane semi-final to set up an unexpected final clash with Northampton.
Bordeaux-Begles delivered a thrilling performance to topple reigning champions Toulouse in a pulsating Investec Champions Cup semi-final on Saturday. The 35-18 victory earned Bordeaux a historic first appearance in the final, where they will face Northampton on 24 May in Cardiff.
The French heavyweights set the tone for an unforgettable contest right from the first whistle. After just three minutes, Bordeaux’s Pete Samu crashed over the try line, sending the home crowd into raptures. Toulouse, however, weren’t about to roll over. They responded with tries from Dimitri Delibes and Pierre-Louis Barassi, briefly taking the lead at 11-10 thanks to Juan-Cruz Mallia’s penalty.
Bordeaux’s electric pace, though, was impossible to contain. Fly-half Matthieu Jalibert sliced through Toulouse’s defence before offloading to Samu, and the hosts capitalised on every opportunity. Romain Buros’ powerful run set up Louis Bielle-Biarrey for a stunning acrobatic try, propelling Bordeaux into the lead.
Bordeaux’s control of the game was further cemented when scrum-half Maxime Lucu nailed a monster penalty from his own half to extend the advantage to 18-11 at the break. Toulouse, missing several key players including the injured Antoine Dupont and Thomas Ramos, were forced to dig deep but struggled to impose their usual dynamic style of play.
The second half began with a bang as Bielle-Biarrey, 2025 Player of the Six Nations, produced a magnificent solo effort just 19 seconds after the restart. He rounded Paul Graou and exchanged passes with Samu to score under the posts, stretching Bordeaux’s lead to 25-11.
Toulouse refused to go quietly. Replacement flanker Anthony Jelonch’s bruising carry sparked a response, and the Toulouse forwards battered their way towards Bordeaux’s try line. Thibaud Flament’s powerful break eventually allowed Barassi to cross for a try, narrowing the gap to 25-18.
But Bordeaux’s resolve held firm. Despite Toulouse’s renewed efforts, Bordeaux’s bench made a crucial impact. Pierre Bochaton powered over from close range to increase the lead, and Ben Tameifuna’s try sealed the victory, much to the delight of the ecstatic home crowd.
Toulouse, who had enjoyed a dominant run in the competition in recent years, were left to rue the absence of their key playmakers. The defending champions fought valiantly but were ultimately unable to stop Bordeaux’s relentless attack.
The win marks a significant milestone for Bordeaux, who have often fallen short in previous seasons. The win also demonstrates their impressive growth under pressure, with their victory over Toulouse coming just one year after a humiliating 59-3 defeat in last season’s Top 14 final.
Bordeaux’s win over Toulouse and Northampton’s shock victory over Leinster sets up an unexpected final that promises to be a thrilling spectacle. Bordeaux, hungry for their first Champions Cup title, will head to Cardiff with a newfound belief, while Northampton will look to build on their incredible win over the Irish giants.
