Andy Goode: My high-scoring prediction for Champions Cup final

Champions Cup finals are normally tight, tense affairs but Northampton and Bordeaux might just deliver one for the ages in Cardiff.

They are averaging 39 and 45 points per game respectively in the competition this season, boast two of the best back divisions in world rugby and both have games built around striking quickly and getting the ball to the edge.

Bordeaux have posted the most clean breaks, made the most metres and scored the most tries in the tournament and done so all while being way down the list when it comes to the possession stats, which just shows how ruthless they are in transition.

Saints have had more ball and like to try to run teams ragged a bit more, they’ve beaten more defenders than anyone else and the feeling is that they could have the advantage in the final quarter if they can do the same to Bordeaux.

The French side’s defence is completely difference to the Leinster one that Northampton faced in the semi-final as they aren’t anywhere near as in your face, they do give you space out wide and are happy to give up some yards as long as they stay connected.

That should give Saints ample opportunity to get the ball into the hands of the players that can do the most damage for them but they know their opponents are lethal when it comes to pouncing on any turnover ball.

It’s a mouth-watering match-up with huge individual head-to-heads everywhere you look but the fly half battle is the biggest of them all and I’d rather have Fin Smith on my side every day of the week in a major final.

Matthieu Jalibert is one of the best players in the world and has the ability to pull a rabbit out of the hat at any given moment but if Northampton can achieve parity up front and not play into his hands, I’d back Smith’s greater decision-making and game management skills to steer his team to victory.

He’s a really mature head on young shoulders and has proven he has the mentality to deliver on the big stage but his ability to manipulate defences and use his short kicking game at just the right time is up there with the very best.

There’s possibly the two most in-form wingers on the planet going up against one another as well in Tommy Freeman and Louis Bielle-Biarrey and I’m really looking forward to keeping a close eye on Henry Pollock’s personal duel with Pete Samu at number eight.

Juarno Augustus’ ball-carrying could be a big miss for the East Midlands outfit but Pollock has answered every question that’s been asked of him so far in his young career, is riding the crest of a wave after his British & Irish Lions selection and you wouldn’t bet against him putting in another player of the match performance.

Augustus might be a loss but it’s huge for Saints to have club captain George Furbank back and even bigger that Curtis Langdon has recovered from his shoulder injury as he’s been immense on both sides of the ball for a long time now.

Despite the return of a few players, the bench is definitely an area where Bordeaux look to have a clear edge but everyone thought the same in the semi-final against Leinster and Saints trust their youngsters to come on and finish the job.

You have to remember as well that for all the breathtaking rugby they’ve played at times in recent years, Bordeaux haven’t won anything in the professional era and the one final they reached may still be haunting them given how badly it went.

They were hammered 59-3 by Toulouse in last year’s Top 14 final and I’m sure they’ll put in a much better showing at the Principality Stadium but major finals do hit different and Saints have the experience of coming out on top in one last season.

People sometimes say of showpiece occasions that you should treat them like any other game but I think you have to embrace the difference because you really don’t know if you’re ever going to get the opportunity to play in another Champions Cup final.

Even for someone as fresh-faced as Pollock, he may never get back to this particular big dance. After all, it’s 14 years since Northampton were last in a Champions Cup final and 25 years almost to the day since the only time they’ve lifted the trophy.

There have been some celebrations recently with the team that won it a quarter of a century ago and it’d be fitting if the current crop could mark the anniversary by putting another star on the jersey, they’re likely to do so in a very different manner if they do.

Saints beat Munster 9-8 in 2000, still the lowest-scoring final we’ve seen, whereas this one has the potential to be the highest scoring Champions Cup final in history.

I played in the highest scoring final as it stands when Leicester beat Stade Francais 34-30 at the Parc des Princes in 2001 but I think this one is going to blow that out of the water and Saints are going to edge an absolute humdinger 42-38.