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French veteran returns as Bordeaux go for back-to-back European titles
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Yannick Bru has made one change to his Bordeaux-Begles starting line-up that beat Bath in their Investec Champions Cup semi-final as they bid to retain their crown in Bilbao tomorrow.
Jefferson Poirot, who returned from suspension in the 37-32 Top 14 win over Perpignan last weekend, starts at loosehead with Matis Perchaud missing out on a place in the 23-man squad.
While the only other change from the 38-26 win over the Gallagher PREM champions three weeks ago sees Lachlan Swinton get the nod over Cyril Cazeaux on the bench.
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Wing sensation Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who stepped off the bench to score two tries against Perpignan, is looking for his ninth try in the tournament this season to take him clear of Toulon’s Gael Drean at the top of the try scorers list.
Bru rested a raft of players last weekend and is able to call upon back-rower Temo Matiu, who scored a try against the West Country side in the semi-final after recovering from a concussion, the same problem that is keeping Jean-Luc Du Preez sidelined.
One of those rested was Salesi Rayasi, who touched down three times in the round of 16 clash win over Leicester Tigers and is, as expected, taking his place at full-back.
Also along the backs, Rohan Janse Van Rensburg is recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, and Nicolas Depoortere is not fit enough despite having returned to training after shoulder surgery.
Bordeaux will start as the favourite and have scored the most points in this season’s competition (305) points, scored the most tries (45), beaten the most defenders (240), made the most metres (3762), and the most clean breaks (118).
While Matthieu Jalibert, who is one of the five players in the running for the Player of the Tournament along with Bielle-Biarrey, tops the chart for the most clean breaks, metres made, defenders beaten, most carries and most offloads.
Bordeaux-Begles XV: Salesi Rayasi, Pablo Uberti, Damian Penaud, Yoram Moefana, Luis Bielle-Biarrey, Matthieu Jalibert, Maxime Lucu; Jefferon Poirot, Maxime Lamothe, Carlu Sadie, Bori Palu, Adam Coleman, Pierre Bochaton, Cameron Woki, Marko Gazzotti
Replacements: Gaeten Barlot, Ugo Boniface, Ben Tameifuna, Lachlan Swinton, Temo Matiu, Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, Arthur Retiere, Hugo Reus
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