Tommy Mc Loughlin – New Ross RFC
After years of European final pain, I genuinely thought this might finally be Leinster’s year. Instead, the long trip back to Lourdes will feel even longer after Union Bordeaux Bègles produced a devastating first-half display to defeat Leinster Rugby 41–19 in the Investec Champions Cup Final at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao. In front of an official attendance of 52,327, Leinster struck first but were quickly overwhelmed by a Bordeaux side whose pace, accuracy and ability to punish mistakes left the game almost beyond reach by half-time. At least the day offered one bright personal moment, meeting someone from my old school and hometown who now lives abroad for a good catch-up before the disappointment fully set in.
O’Brien Gives Leinster the Start They Wanted
Leinster began with the sort of patience and control that offered real encouragement. After working through the phases, Harry Byrne found Tommy O’Brien on the wing and the Leinster winger crossed for the opening try after eight minutes. Byrne converted from near the touchline and, at 7–0, the blue support inside San Mamés had every reason to believe. Bordeaux’s reply, however, was immediate and ruthless. Maxime Lucu darted over from a quickly taken penalty before adding the conversion to level the game. Within four further minutes, the holders had moved ahead, Pablo Uberti finishing after Bordeaux created space from a five-metre scrum. Lucu again converted, and Leinster’s promising opening had suddenly been turned into a seven-point deficit.
Bielle-Biarrey Lights Up Bilbao as Bordeaux Pull Clear
The major damage came during a brutal spell before the interval. Louis Bielle-Biarrey, later named Player of the Tournament, showed exactly why Bordeaux are so dangerous in broken-field situations when he scored his first try after 24 minutes, stepping through the Leinster defence before Lucu added the extras. Leinster attempted to work their way back into the contest, but handling errors and missed opportunities proved costly against a side prepared to attack from anywhere. Bielle-Biarrey struck again after 35 minutes, finishing another Bordeaux break to make it 28–7. The final blow of the half arrived when Yoram Moefana intercepted a Leinster pass and raced away for Bordeaux’s fifth try. Lucu converted once more, leaving Leinster facing an enormous task at 35–7 down at half-time.
McCarthy Offers Hope but Lucu Keeps Leinster at Distance
Leinster needed an immediate response after the break and they found one through Joe McCarthy, who powered over after 45 minutes while Bordeaux were down to 14 men following Lucu’s yellow card. Ciaran Frawley missed the conversion, but at 35–12 there was at least a sign of life from Leinster. There were moments when a comeback threatened to gather momentum, particularly with Frawley bringing energy from the bench, but Bordeaux were simply too efficient when it mattered. Leinster could not turn promising positions into points, while Lucu returned from the sin bin to punish them with two penalties, the second a superb long-range effort which pushed the lead out to 41–12.
Ringrose Try Cannot Prevent Another Painful Final Defeat
Leinster continued to push despite the size of the deficit and Garry Ringrose eventually crossed after 71 minutes, with Frawley converting to bring the score to 41–19. Ugo Boniface was shown a late yellow card for Bordeaux, but by then the trophy was already heading back to France. Bordeaux had done the real damage long before the closing stages. Five first-half tries, inspired by Bielle-Biarrey’s finishing and Lucu’s control, had left Leinster with far too much to chase. The final whistle confirmed another desperately painful Champions Cup final defeat for Leinster, while Bordeaux Bègles retained their title in emphatic fashion.
The Verdict
This was a difficult one to take. After so many years of getting close, there was a genuine feeling that Leinster might finally bring the Champions Cup back to Dublin, but Bordeaux were clearly the better side on the day. Leinster started well and showed some character after the break, but the first-half damage was far too severe against a team with Bordeaux’s attacking quality. Maxime Lucu was a deserving Player of the Match, scoring a try, landing seven kicks at goal and controlling the final with real authority. Louis Bielle-Biarrey’s two tries further underlined why he was named Player of the Tournament. Every time Bordeaux found space, Leinster looked vulnerable, and that will hurt as much as the result itself.
There are now difficult questions for Leinster. Questions will inevitably be asked of Leo Cullen and Jacques Nienaber after another final defeat, particularly after conceding five tries in the opening half. There are also major questions ahead at fly-half and scrum-half, with Ciaran Frawley leaving for Connacht, Luke McGrath leaving for Perpignan and Jamison Gibson-Park not getting any younger. After Ulster’s defeat in the Challenge Cup Final the previous night, Bilbao proved to be a painful weekend for Irish rugby.
Match Squads
Leinster Rugby:
15. Hugo Keenan, 14. Tommy O’Brien, 13. Garry Ringrose, 12. Robbie Henshaw, 11. Rieko Ioane, 10. Harry Byrne, 9. Jamison Gibson-Park, 1. Andrew Porter, 2. Dan
Sheehan, 3. Tom Clarkson, 4. Joe McCarthy, 5. James Ryan, 6. Jack Conan, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Caelan Doris (c).
Replacements: 16. Ronan Kelleher, 17. Paddy McCarthy, 18. Tadhg Furlong, 19. Diarmuid Mangan, 20. Max Deegan, 21. Luke McGrath, 22. Ciaran Frawley, 23. Jamie Osborne.
Union Bordeaux Bègles:
15. Salesi Rayasi, 14. Pablo Uberti, 13. Damian Penaud, 12. Yoram Moefana, 11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10. Matthieu Jalibert, 9. Maxime Lucu (c), 1. Jefferson Poirot, 2. Maxime Lamothe, 3. Carlü Sadie, 4. Boris Palu, 5. Adam Coleman, 6. Pierre Bochaton, 7. Cameron Woki, 8. Marko Gazzotti.
Replacements: 16. Gaetan Barlot, 17. Ugo Boniface, 18. Ben Tameifuna, 19. Lachie Swinton, 20. Temo Matiu, 21. Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, 22. Arthur Retiere, 23. Hugo Reus.
Match Details
Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng) Venue: San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao Attendance: 52,327 Half-Time Score: Leinster Rugby 7–35 Union Bordeaux Bègles Full-Time Score: Leinster Rugby 19–41 Union Bordeaux Bègles
Match Discipline & Scorers
Cards: Lucu (Union Bordeaux Bègles, yellow card, 41’); Boniface (Union Bordeaux Bègles, yellow card, 73’).
Scorers:
Leinster Rugby:
• Tries: O’Brien (8’), McCarthy (45’), Ringrose (71’) • Cons: Byrne (9’), Frawley (71’) • Pens: None
Union Bordeaux Bègles:
• Tries: Lucu (13’), Uberti (17’), Bielle-Biarrey (24’, 35’), Moefana (41’) • Cons: Lucu (14’, 18’, 25’, 36’, 42’) • Pens: Lucu (59’, 64’)
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Maxime Lucu (Union Bordeaux Bègles)