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Bordeaux-Begles head coach Yannick Bru has confirmed that France winger Damian Penaud will be 100 per cent for Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup final against Northampton Saints.
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The 28-year-old, who has scored a competition-leading 12 tries this season, limped from the field in severe discomfort in the semi-final victory over Toulouse with what had all the hallmarks of a season-ending ankle injury.
Though he has not featured since the 35-18 victory at the beginning of the month, his head coach has assured fans that the try-scoring machine will be fit to run out at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
This will not make for pleasant reading for Northampton, who have been heaped with their own injury concerns over the past week. Already without No.8 Juarno Augustus heading into the match, the Saints lost Curtis Langdon, James Ramm and Alex Coles in the epic 28-24 victory over Saracens on Saturday – all of whom were immense in the victory over Leinster. Dowson said post-match: “All could be doubts for next week but it’s too early to assess.”
Penaud’s team-mate Adam Coleman also allayed any fears of the winger’s fitness heading into the match, saying: “He’s going good. He’ll be fine for next week, the final – they’re wrapping him in cotton wool!”
The Australia and Tonga lock also gave his assessment of his upcoming opponents, praising the Gallagher Premiership winners’ defence in their victory over Leinster.
“They’re a great attacking team, but they’re very good defensively,” he said.
“What impresses me about them is their work off the ball – defensively they’re very organised. We’ll definitely have to be at our best.
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“They really showed it against Leinster in that semi-final. They were well organised, incredibly aggressive on the hits, their maul stood up.
“They’ve got a quality forward pack, it’s going to be a tough game.”
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