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Kyle Godwin has joined EPCR Challenge Cup holders Lyon ahead of the new TOP 14 season
Connacht Rugby will be looking for a win in Bordeaux on Saturday in order to clinch their Challenge Cup quarter-final place. Their clash with Bordeaux-Begles gets under way at 15:00 GMT.
- This will be the fourth clash between Bordeaux-Bègles and Connacht, and the Irish province has won all three to date.
- A win at Chaban-Delmas and Connacht will be in with a strong chance of qualification, but if they finish level on match points with Sale, then the Gallagher Premiership club will top the pool based on the head-to-head games.
- Connacht have won eight of their last 10 away games against TOP 14 opposition in the Challenge Cup, including each of their last three such fixtures.
- Bordeaux have won their last two matches, but they’ve not enjoyed a longer winning streak in the Challenge Cup since a four-game run in 2001/02.
GALLERY 📸 | The build up is continuing to Saturday's European Challenge Cup pool finale with Bordeaux in France.
Check out some of the best pics from today's training at The Sportsground ➡️ https://t.co/RaeJRfgRBO pic.twitter.com/TsmIjOLdLb
— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) January 15, 2019
- Bordeaux have won their last two home games when hosting Irish opposition, beating Ulster in 2016/17 and Leinster in 1998/99 – both in Europe’s top flight.
- Eoghan Masterson is yet to miss a tackle in this campaign completing 28/28.
- Bordeaux’s Cameron Woki has won the most lineouts (36) this season, including a competition-high 6 steals.
- Bordeaux’s Baptiste Serin has landed all 5 of his shots at goal this season.
Connacht's Tiernan O'Halloran celebrates his try
Connacht produced a stirring fightback in the final ten minutes to edge out Bordeaux 33-27 in a thrilling European Rugby Challenge Cup Pool 3 encounter.
Begles had led 20-19 after a pulsating first half saw both sides enjoy periods of dominance.
Replacements Afaesetiti Amosa and Jefferson Poirot both crossed for tries for the home side and Lucas Meret converted both to add to his two penalties.
That’ll do lads! 👏 pic.twitter.com/AtN0CIm05i
— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) January 19, 2019
Connacht were well in the game though and produced three tries of their own before the break through Darragh Leader, Quinn Roux, Tiernan O’Halloran and Matt Healy with David Horwitz converting two.
Bordeaux stretched their advantage when Serin went in for a converted try but Connacht were not to be denied.
23' ESSAIIIII ! Il est signé Afa Amosa qui vient de faire son entrée sur le terrain. Transformation réussie par Lucas Meret : 10-12. L'UBB recolle au score. #ILOVEUBB #UBBvCON pic.twitter.com/zVwMbEad6q
— UBB Rugby (@UBBrugby) January 19, 2019
A fine counter-attack from the visitors ended with Healy notching his second try to cut the deficit to 27-26.
Then with time running out replacement Jack Carty intercepted to race over and added his second conversion to boost Connacht’s chances of a quarter-final berth.
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