Bristol reach first European final with extra-time win over Bordeaux
Bristol reached their first European final by staging a stirring fightback to beat Challenge Cup opponents Bordeaux-Begles 37-20 after extra time at Ashton Gate. The English club overcame a 13-point deficit and a yellow card for star centre Semi Radradra against his former club to reach next month’s final, when they will tackle Toulon or Leicester.
But they needed an additional 20 minutes to go through, with substitute centre Piers O’Conor and full-back Max Malins scoring early in the first period of extra-time and breaking Bordeaux’s resistance after it finished 20-20 in 80 minutes.
Captain Steven Luatua and Malins scored tries during normal time, while fly-half Callum Sheedy converted all four tries and kicked three penalties for a 17-point haul. But Bristol, who last made a major final more than 30 years ago in the days of English rugby’s knockout cup, were in trouble for long periods against a Matthieu Jalibert-inspired Bordeaux.
Jalibert scored a try and booted two penalties, and there was also a try for hooker Joseph Dweba, with Maxime Lucu and Ben Botica each adding a conversion.
Bristol centre Siale Piutau returned after a three-match ban, but his brother Charles was sidelined by an achilles injury, so Malins deputised in the No15 shirt and wing Alapati Leiua replaced hamstring injury victim Henry Purdy.
"Radradra, once again causing havoc in Europe!"
From one side to the other @BristolBears get the score they've worked so hard for and we have a cracking game on our hands!#ChampionsCupRugby pic.twitter.com/RHSfMMiJmE
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) September 25, 2020
Bordeaux included wing Ben Lam, nephew of Bristol rugby director Pat Lam, while Lucu, prop Ben Tameifuna and flanker Cameron Woki were called up following last weekend’s quarter-final victory over Edinburgh.
The visitors enjoyed a dominant opening, and they took a richly-deserved lead as Bristol struggled to quell their power and pace. Bordeaux skipper Jefferson Poirot was heavily involved in the build-up and his fellow France international Jalibert finished off impressively, rounding Malins for a superb try that Lucu converted.
Bristol badly needed a spark from somewhere, and scrum-half Harry Randall provided it, breaking clear from a quickly-taken penalty, but Bordeaux defenders managed to haul him down before clearing danger. Both teams were guilty of conceding turnovers at an alarming rate, yet Bordeaux kept their composure in key areas as Bristol struggled for fluency.
Bristol fell further behind when Jalibert kicked two penalties in three minutes, putting his team 13 points clear as the Gallagher Premiership play-off contenders continued to look a distant second-best. But just when Bordeaux looked as they might keep Bristol out for the entire first half, they conceded a try.
Leiua went close and when possession was quickly recycled Radradra cut a decisive attacking line and he sent an unmarked Luatua over to score. Sheedy added the conversion and Bristol were back in contention, albeit with plenty still to do, trailing 13-7 at the interval.
The second period started badly for Bristol, with Radradra sin-binned inside a minute for a swinging arm tackle, although Jalibert then went off nursing what appeared to be a calf muscle injury and was replaced by Botica. Bristol displayed far greater drive and organisation than during the first 40 minutes, and they went ahead with Radradra still off.
Randall’s attacking instincts again surfaced, and his clever kick into space was gathered by Malins, who touched down and Sheedy converted. Bristol were suddenly in the ascendancy, and they further success approaching the hour-mark when Sheedy kicked a penalty from just inside the Bordeaux half.
Another Sheedy penalty suggested Bristol might pull away, but Bordeaux had other ideas as Dwemba powered over from close range and Botica converted to tie things up at 20-20. It set up a thrilling conclusion, and Bordeaux went down to 14 men after suffering an injury and having used all their replacements before extra-time beckoned.
Bristol went up a gear at exactly the right time, marching into the Challenge Cup final in thrilling fashion after what became a survival of the fittest.
This guy right here ?#ChallengeCupRugby pic.twitter.com/ezyN30SyzR
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) September 25, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Crusaders reached their heights through recruitment of North Island players, often leaving those NI teams bereft of key players. Example: Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock robbed the Canes of their lineout and AB locks. For years the Canes have struggled at lock. This rabid recruitment was iniated by rule changes by a Crusader dominated NZR Head Office. Now this aggressive recruitment has back-fired, going after young inside back Hamilton Boys stars. They now have 4 Chiefs region 10s and not one with the requisite experience at Super level. Problems of their own making!
1 Go to commentsOver rated for a long time…exposed at scrum time too.
3 Go to comments“Firing me” should have been Gatland’s answer.
2 Go to commentsFinn Russell logic: “World” = 4 countries. Ireland may be at or near the top. FR’s bigger concern should be he and his fellow Scots (incl. the Bloemfontein ones) sliding back down to below top 10
42 Go to commentsMind games have begun. Ireland learned their lesson after saying they could beat England with 13 players or whatever. Still, if they win at Loftus, that would be impressive - final frontier etc.
58 Go to comments$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
3 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
1 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
11 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
3 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
3 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
11 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
11 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
11 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to comments