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Overview
Season so far
Tournament record
Bristol Bears full-back Max Malins on the attack
Bordeaux Bègles host European Rugby Challenge Cup holders Bristol Bears in a rematch of last season’s semi-final – this time in the Round of 16 of the Heineken Champions Cup.
The French side have enjoyed two wins from two in the pool stage, defeating Northampton Saints 16-12 in the opening round of fixtures before a 47-8 thrashing of Dragons a week later, securing a home fixture in the Round of 16.
Bristol, meanwhile, have already suffered defeat to French opposition in this season’s competition – a 51-38 reverse against ASM Clermont Auvergne. They secured their knockout stage berth with a 27-18 victory over Connacht Rugby.
The action gets underway at the Stade Chaban-Delmas at 15:00 (British and Irish time) and is live on BT Sport in the United Kingdom as well as FR2 and beIN SPORTS in France.
Pool positions
Bordeaux Bègles: 3rd Heineken Champions Cup Pool A (9 points)
Bristol Bears: 6th Heineken Champions Cup Pool B (6 points)
Head-to-head record
Bordeaux Bègles wins: 1
Draws: 0
Bristol Bears wins: 2
A tasty rematch of last year’s Challenge Cup semi-final as @UBBrugby take on high-flying @BristolBears 😲
Which of these exciting sides will we see in the last 8 of the #HeinekenChampionsCup? 🔥
Drink it in LIVE on @btsportrugby, @beinsports_FR and @France2tv 🙌 pic.twitter.com/XznrVSrxXK
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) April 1, 2021
Leading 2020/21 points-scorers
Bordeaux Bègles: Santiago Cordero (20)
Bristol Bears: Callum Sheedy (16)
Key quote
Pat Lam (Bristol Bears): “We know the challenge we face away – it’s always tough away in France, but certainly at Bordeaux. We know the type of team that they are and how dangerous they are – although we beat them in the Challenge Cup last season, we went to extra time for that, and they know what we bring as well. It’s Champions Cup football.”
Match facts
- Bordeaux and Bristol have never met before in the Heineken Champions Cup, however they have clashed three times before in the Challenge Cup.
- The last clash between Bordeaux and Bristol came in the Challenge Cup semi-finals last season, the Premiership side coming back from 13-7 at half-time to prevail 37-20.
- Both Bordeaux and Bristol are aiming to reach the quarter-finals of the Heineken Champions Cup for the first time in their history.
- Bordeaux have won their last three games in the Heineken Champions Cup, a fourth win would be a record for them in the competition.
- Bristol have won five of their last six away games against TOP 14 opposition, all of those games coming in the Challenge Cup.
- Bristol Bears top the charts for most metres (950, same as Wasps), breaks (31) and defenders beaten (48, same as Clermont) in the Heineken Champions Cup this season.
- Bryan Byrne (Bristol Bears) is one of just four forwards to score multiple tries (2) in the Heineken Champions Cup this season (also Rob Herring, Georges-Henri Colombe and Alfie Barbeary).
- Max Malins ranks second for both carries (26) and metres made (191) in the Heineken Champions Cup this season, behind Kurtley Beale in both categories.
Heineken Star of the Match Matthieu Jalibert
Bordeaux-Begles scored two tries in the final 10 minutes to defeat Bristol Bears 36-17 in their Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16 clash on Sunday afternoon.
The French side avenged their Challenge Cup semi-final defeat from last season and set up an all-French quarter-final against Racing 92 next weekend.
It was Bristol who made a quick start, working from left to right with nice hands before finding Henry Purdy who was quick enough to go clear and score.
The two teams then engaged in something of a kicking battle, with both Callum Sheedy and Matthieu Jalibert slotting over a pair of three-pointers.
Massive response from Bordeaux! 🇫🇷
Moments after being reduced to 14 men, Joseph Dweba powers over the line.
Could this be the score that puts them through to the quarter-finals?#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/8OA1jbwQ3D
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) April 4, 2021
However, Bordeaux would end the first half on top with another two penalty kicks from Heineken Star of the Match Jalibert.
The fly-half then bagged a try to push the Bordeaux lead out to eight points, burrowing over with the penalty advantage at his disposal.
Purdy then missed a superb opportunity to cut the gap, looking sure to score but spilt possession close to the line.
Sheedy would kick Bristol within five points on 57 minutes but that is as close as the visitors would get.
A powerful defence-splitting run from Joseph Dweba gave Bordeaux an important cushion with eight minutes to play, before Nans Ducuing intercepted a Chris Vui pass and cleared away to score at the sticks and sent Bordeaux into the last eight.
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