Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Observers of French rugby may be asking that very question right now, after Union Bordeaux-Bègles’ dramatic 28-20 victory over Northampton Saints in the Champions Cup final. Have UBB created a new momentum in French rugby, or was their Champions Cup victory a spin-off of Six Nations success?
It is axiomatic in modern systems thinking that every improvement in a system changes the system itself. Larger outcomes are always emerging from the interaction of the smaller, often invisible parts within it. They can cascade throughout the whole structure and produce dramatic change. ‘Emergence’ is the term used to describe the process.
UBB are that novelty in terms of the league in which they participate. Compared to other competitions around the globe, the Top 14 is dominated by raw power and ferocious physicality. It features massive units in the tight forwards, with more frequent interchanges off the bench [12 rather than the usual eight] allowing those leviathans regular breathers. Ball-in-play time is typically anywhere between two and five minutes less than it is in Super Rugby, the URC and the Gallagher Premiership.
UBB have emerged from that system but they are more of an outlier than fully representative of it. They are big, but nowhere near as huge in the forwards as the two French clubs who have dominated the Champions Cup in recent seasons, Stade Toulousain and La Rochelle. Most of the forwards in Bordeaux are built for work-rate, intensity and mobility rather than set-piece power.
Toulouse may have been the standard-bearers of the national flag in the Antoine Dupont era, but if there is one club in the Top 14 which resembles France more closely than any other right now, it is the claret and white of UBB. A selection of comparative stats between club [Champions Cup rounds one-seven] and country [Six Nations 2025] reveals a definite similarity in the styles of play.
The French revolution which occurred in round three of the Six Nations sent no fewer than five Toulousain forwards to a new 7-1 bench, with all-rounders such as Jean-Baptiste Gros and Mickael Guillard preferred to Cyrille Baille and Emmanuel Meafou in the starting line-up.
Neither club nor country were unduly worried by a sub-50% share of possession, nor did they emphasise ruck-setting as a method of building pressure on their opponents. Far from it: both teams were at the very bottom of the pool for rucks set, and kicked long and often.
When they scored, they both scored quickly within four phases of possession or less, highlighting the offload to create momentum on rapid-fire attacks from turnover ball. Both ramped up the pressure after half-time and in the fourth quarter in particular, engaging overdrive in the second period of the match.
While Toulouse has been the mainstay of the national side for as long as anyone can remember, UBB has been influencing the national style more of late – and especially after Bordeaux halfback Maxime Lucu replaced rouge et noir Dupont in only the 28th minute of the Six Nations game against Ireland. It was a symbolic moment which showed France it can win the crunch games without its talisman.
That climactic match was preceded by a fascinating exchange on the RTE podcast between ex-Leinster hooker Bernard Jackman and current UBB attack co-ordinator Noel McNamara in the build-up. It focused on the club-country cohesion in France and the evolution of playing style at national level.
“When they made the decision around the JIFFs [Joueurs Issus des Filières de Formation], that ruling created an environment where you are incentivised to play [young] French-qualified players. They are reaping the benefit from it, and the impact can often be felt many years later. There is a structure now.” [NM]
“The French national side were disgraceful as [a representative of] the sum of the parts in the club game, but that home World Cup in 2023 allowed clubs to sign up to an agreement around JIFF, and it made French players more valuable.” [BJ]
“This is considered a ‘golden generation’. They have won numerous under-20 World Cups, they have a great depth of talent coming through, and they have an unprecedented level of support from the clubs.
“During the fallow weeks of the Six Nations they can protect 19 players and there is a training squad of 42. This is the most support that has ever been given [by the clubs] to the national team.
“The agreement was signed before the 2023 World Cup but they have managed to keep it in place. Club presidents have not looked for a land-grab, to take some of that power back. That hasn’t happened.” [NM]
The conversation turned to the importance of the kicking game, and attacking opportunities garnered from it.
“France with Dupont, Ramos and Ntamack [at the back], they kick very well and they kick very long. Against that three in particular, it is very difficult to win the territory battle against them.” [NM]
“When Shaun Edwards first came in [as France defence coach], he said ‘I’m not coming unless you get a kicking coach’, and their policy has been really consistent – it’s ‘long and on’ [long and infeld].
“Ireland’s own kicking game will risk that France look up at some stage and say, ‘it’s on’ and they counter-attack, and they have the people to beat the first defender. Then it’s ‘jouer’!” [BJ]
“France also changed when ‘Dupont’s Law’ was outlawed. Dupont had been protecting the tight five by staying upfield on long kicks, now they have gone to the 7-1 [bench split]. It’s all about trying to protect their tight five… The biggest difference [compared to Ireland] is France’s ability to play in transition, in the unstructured part of the game – turnover, counter-attacking. When they are in behind you, they are ruthless.” [NM]
“The backbone of UBB and Toulouse has given a clarity around ‘having a go’ in these situations. The positive attitude has transferred from these two teams and it looks a lot more seamless than it has at times in the past. There are a lot of players who now know how and when to attack those situations. The whole Bordeaux-Toulouse axis is helping France at the moment.” [BJ]
While the king has not yet abdicated, there is an abiding sense of a subtle shift away from red and black and towards claret and white, and it is epitomised by the way in which France were able to seamlessly replace ‘the best player in the world’ from Toulouse with a Bordelais, without losing significant traction. In terms of tactical balance, they may have gained more than they lost. UBB’s emergence has changed the structural landscape of French rugby.
Maxime Lucu was crowned ‘homme du match’ after the final in Cardiff, and it was as much a tribute to the regeneration of his game in his early thirties as it was a reward for his performance on the day. When Lucu first entered the national jousts with Dupont away on sabbatical for the Olympic sevens, he was frequently caught in two minds, taking steps away from the base of the ruck and cutting down the space of the men outside him.
The French system designed for Dupont, with a block of six forwards in and around the scrum-half, never suited the UBB man. Back on familiar territory with Bordeaux in the Champions Cup final, Lucu was able to showcase his improvement.
In both instances, the scrum-half keeps the defence guessing by setting up to pass to the left before switching to the opposite side of the field. The Saints defence is on the back foot and forced react to Lucu, unable to predict his movements and tee off on the receiver.
If there was one essential difference between the two finalists at the Principality Stadium, it was to be found in the quality of the kicking, and kick return games. Northampton lost two of their starting back three [James Ramm and George Furbank] within the first five minutes, and their chances of countering the UBB long kicking game effectively departed with them.
Lucu only had one negative outcome among the 12 kicks he launched, and he was able to out-kick the Saints backfield with his extraordinary length off the right boot.
In the first clip UBB are rewarded with an excellent attacking lineout position, in the second with a promising return opportunity for one of their most lethal attackers, Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
One of the problems for the defence is that Lucu is genuinely two-footed, just like Dupont. He can kick as well off his left foot as he can off his right.
Lucu’s left foot facility opens up both sides of the field and spreads the defensive backfield to both corners. The second example is a win-win situation: if the ball goes out over the side-line, Saints have a defensive lineout in their own third; if it stays in, the fastest man on the field [Bielle-Biarrey] will be in hot pursuit.
While Toulouse have been the primary bulwark supporting the French national team ever since 2019 and over the last full World Cup cycle, it is the emergence of UBB which is reshaping the system across the Channel right now.
The mid-tournament selection changes at the Six Nations, when a majority of four UBB backs started and five Toulousain forwards finished off the bench, changed the expectation of what Les Bleus could achieve without the great Dupont available.
There were no back-stops or emergency fill-ins with Lucu as le petit general. There was a rich harvest of eight tries and 72 points scored over the one and a half games with the Bordelais as the main man at nine. As good as ‘the best player in the world’ may be as an individual, the system may just have changed for the better.
I’m no expert, but I can’t say I agree with this article. The French team has doubled down on big forwards, by using a 7/1 bench, and that seems to be why the Toulouse forwards are on the bench not titulaires, among other things, to inject maximum impact when the opposition are tired. And come to that, some Toulouse backs such as Mauvaka are very mobile, while ‘big’ Ben of UBB is very big! As UBB’s coach played for Toulouse, the similarities between the stats for French team and for UBB, given who was playing for France, seem to be down to similarities between UBB and ST. Toulouse with their offloading game, often avoid rucks too. That said, some key players have very different strengths and weaknesses. The UBB wingers are obviously lightening fast! Dupont is unique, very different from Lucu, highly talented in his own way, while Jalibert is very flamboyant in attack but can’t tackle his way out of a paper bag, whereas Ntamack is the best defensive 10 in the world imo, and a team player, with his spectacular attacking flair subdued somewhat until his knee is properly fixed.
UBB have recruited well since last year and improved since their drubbing in the 2024 final, and while Toulouse were playing rugby from the gods at the beginning of the season, which left pundits drooling, the injury list, which is always significant, has become staggering as the season has gone on, and the scrum half position in particular has become problematic. It will be interesting to see who wins if UBB and ST face each other in the Top14 final, and very interesting to see who wins when Dupont, Mauvaka et al are back!
Yep they should ask the clubs to do the ‘nursing’ in mid-season rather than eating further into the international calendar by devaluing tours!
Always like to find out a bit more about conversational partners Ed! Which team do you support again?
Whether Toulouse or Bordeaux - the future of French Rugby looks good. Top contenders at RWC 2027.
They will have to learn to win away from home consistently first!
Not from a few extra games with clubs B teams, that’s for sure.
To be fair, logically - which may not be well placed to do so - he first said “in a few decades”. Now, whatever he said that for, I’d at least agree that things are more likely to be in place in the future, that aren’t really here quite yet, to enable that sort of crowd funding/takeover. Then of course you’d need something to become available.
Crowd funding has come a long way but I don’t think I’ve heard of anything a long the lines of this, but it could be a possibility?
Great topic. Sounds similar to me the observation of two posts made in you’re last article about Ardie. One was the 3 pronged ball carrying loosie combination, or more simply how the one team to make the most of playing a ball playing 7, performed the worst against the team who played with the most width to their game, and the other was about a 3 score game swung in the time frame of 10 minutes when that ball player 7 function was introduced during a game. The idea being how the change in function of only one position could so drastically change outcomes on the field.
Also on the JIFF!! That’s great to see the clubs might find appeal in the concessions they wanted. Highlanders current situation has been topically recently as well and I raised the question of whether a similar squad make up similar to France’s selection sharing of players between clubs may assist in promoting viability of all Super Rugby club sides. With idea it results in a more competitive environment, player retention, and game results wise, that one team doesn’t themselves getting into a hole they can’t get out of. The facet specifically being the requirement of the national side to pull from all clubs team when a limit is in affect for any one club.
Even knowing the result, and especially despite the constantly pointless interruption of the TMO, the final was fairly entertaining to watch. Obviously Saints did so well just to stay in with the sniff given the injuries.
Let’s hold our horses here JW. France don’t yet have a way of ‘selection sharing of players between clubs’. The credits proposal is just that atm and Top 14 is a very capitalistic league. Those with the most money tend to win more.
How does that relate to NZ?
Ah chief, God bless you.
You’ve never once chosen your words carefully 🤣! Ever!
Never change, Ed!!!!!
Nice!
The old fashioned way!
Don’t be hard on yourself, fella.
A Blade Runner reference on a rugby forum! 👌
Legit 10/10!
A 100 questions. Cross-referenced!
Obviously.
If you don’t live in the middle-east does that mean genocide isn’t real????
“so obviously English” - Read up on the difference between condescension and observation!
If I’m going to be reduced to reading Shakespeare, I’ll stick with the King James Bible he translated.
Don’t get the fuss around him. His English is terrible. Real clunky.
Dupont was thrown straight back into knockout rugby weeks after a broken jaw.
They’d at least a sniffers chance of winning a home RWC. Their player safety approach is very changeable.
Calling someone a politician could rightly be taken as an insult.
The good part was an important distinction to make.
Oh I do.
It’s actually reflexively ironic as it was also a post. As in a response posted on a forum.
Always here to help.
Always
Clear parallel from your Toulouse question to Leinster keeps me on the rails I say!
Great place for a few pints but didn’t you say something about staying on topic just now?
Sure we are, just some are more equal than others! But you knew that right…
So if the tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?
Tone and language is always the same. You just do the Voigt-Kampff test from Blade Runner on em 🤣
Who said sensitivity was a bad thing? Didn’t you profess to be some kind of self awareness guru a while back?
And you moved from an accusation of condescending comment straight into stating that I was “so obviously English”.
As for nemesis, perhaps you need to better research YOUR original quote from the Scottish play and more fully understand it’s context before commenting further…
I understand how the Top 14 works, but the cost is painful for the supporter of international rugby.
The ‘win’ is to be found in staying on-topic Ed.👍
Only occasionally IB!
I thought you were a Fulham/Chelsea man Ed??🤣
Another term that you don’t quite fully comprehend…!
Or doing some communal weights before a smokin session!
How the hell did you take that as offering respect or approval??? 🤣
I would struggle to watch football highlights far less sit through a full game of 90% boredom, not my bag old bean.
They may own the club but I chose my words carefully when I said ‘owned and run’…
Be standing. I’m not a Brit.
Bow to nobody. We’re all equal.
I agree … or do I?
I’m very sensitive. Why would that be a bad thing?
The human condition is such a broad spectrum. I’m horrified I could have projected such a ‘rough and tumble façade’ however you may have misunderstood (your speciality).
But YOU have linked condescension with nationality! Why? Who put you up to this?
Basic self-awareness aside, you quite literally wrote the word nemesis a little while back. It might be the first time I’d ever seen it on this site.
Maybe I should go by a new name - Ned the Duck? Fred the Duck?
Not in combat anyways…
Of all the things I saw you as ike, and there have been a few, I will admit that being a paid up brown nose probably wasn’t one of them!!!
POST-IRONY😂
Ah, Edward! That’s so cute.
I’m sorry to say this but I’m not after your respect or approval. I wouldn’t know which sink to widdle it into. It would all mean less than nothing to me.
Ed!!! The second you’re off the rugby, it’s off a cliff!
The Socios own their club. It’s always been owned by them. A beacon of Catalan light in a dark sporting world.
Ever drank with them? They are absolute lunatics.
Happy to bow to your expertise on that one ike!
“usually I don’t even agree with my own posts.”
Now THAT is the most illuminating comment you’ve made!!! 🤣
If you think a small detail like that would stop them, you’ve clearly never crossed La Manche old bean!
Of all the things I saw you as ike, and there have been a few, I will admit that being a paid up brown nose probably wasn’t one of them!!!
They are around and easy enough to spot. The same old prejudices and obsessions follow them around.
I’ve no idea why they are obsessed with me. I’m unremarkable and usually I don’t even agree with my own posts.
Puzzling.
That’s utterly mental. Such devotion!
I’d make a playful joke about Ed being a tax dodger but it would drift to his favourite past time of talking about libel and what he alone seems to think it means.
The French union would have to own their clubs first…
Good job your boys left the EU, Ed😬
And if you believe that they’re genuinely owned and run by their fans I’ve got a very good bridge to sell you…
“When you stick to the rugby” screamed the kettle. Loudly, as always…
Ps what the hell is jedward?
Their Nov series is always good business.
They routinely sell out one of the largest stadiums in sport. Their cut off the gate gets buffered by the broadcast rights for that. They actually get to keep their local time Kick Offs in those games. They call the shots.
BARCA-LONA!!!!!!!!
Their fans/owners meetings are the stuff of legend. They last for days and usually descend into violence.
At least they care.
I’d have loved a piece of that.
The front row having a communal cigarette break after their weights session.
Jedward! You’ve just got an upvote!!!
You’re great when you keep it to the rugby.
…burning tyres before you know it!!! 🤣