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Revenu dans la course à la qualification en Challenge Cup après un départ poussif
Bordeaux-Begles must tear-up the form book if they are to maintain their challenge on Pool 4 leaders Edinburgh.
Following defeat at home to the Scots in the opening round of the European Challenge Cup, Bordeaux have won their last two games, both with maximum points, including last week’s win over French rivals Lyon.
But victory at London Welsh is their only away success on their last four games on the road.
In contrast Lyon may be struggling in the Top14 but have proved a tough nut to crack at Matmut Stadium where they have won six from seven this season. Only Toulouse have managed a win in the historic city on the Rhone.
As well as that home record, Lyon have a score to settle having now lost twice to Bordeaux this season following defeat on the opening weekend of the domestic season.
Neither of these teams have previously reached the knock-out stages of Europe so there is plenty at stake.
Last week’s thoroughly entertaining game produced seven tries and 66 points and this return match promises more of the same.
Bordeaux lost top-try scorer Darly Domvo and were able to rest kicker Pierre Bernard but still saw Romain Lonca cross twice and had the boot of former France fly-half Lionel Beauxis to call upon for 12 points.
Similarly Lyon were without the ball-carrying prowess of Masi Matadigo but boast one of the most elusive runners in the tournament, centre Franck Romanet, while ex-France full-back Jerome Porical scored 19 points.
Relancé après sa victoire contre Edimbourg
Romain Loursac scored twice as Lyon maintained their impressive home form against rivals Bordeaux-Begles.
The Lyon centre grabbed two first-half tries while Paul Bonnefond and Thibault Regard completed a bonus-point win at Matmut Stadium.
And Jerome Porical, who kicked 17 points to add to the 19 he scored last week against the same opponents, delivered a telling blow with a late penalty that denied Bordeaux the consolation of a losing bonus point.
That only added to the sense of frustration for Bordeaux, who led 10-0 after 14 minutes, who also fell short of a try bonus despite scores for Yann Lesgourges, Ole Avei, Thibault Lacroix.
Bordeaux had just one away win this season but started in fifth gear when Lionel Beauxis dropped a goal and then converted a stunning 50 metre breakaway try by skipper Lesgourges breakaway.
It got worse for Lyon when they lost tight-head prop Horrace Pungea to injury at the same time.
But that 10-0 deficit shocked Lyon into a stunning response with three unanswered tries in 20 minutes. Fly-half Loursac crossed twice, either side of centre Bonnefond’s try.
On the back of successive wins, Bordeaux mounted a response of their own after a Beauxis penalty on stroke of half-time kept them in sight.
Hooker Avei stormed over early in the second half and when centre Lacroix skipped over on 68 minutes, they led the hosts 28-27.
It was an untimely moment for Beauxis to miss his first of six attempts when the conversion, into the wind, missed the target.
Yet again that stunned Lyon into action and wing Regard darted over just moments later. Porical converted and added a late penalty to secure a win that will also have gone down well in Edinburgh, who remain top of Pool 4 with a game in-hand.
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