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It's knock-out rugby for London Welsh and Bordeaux-Begles already after both lost their opening games of Pool 4 in the European Rugby Challenge Cup. - 22/10/2014 10:55
It’s knock-out rugby for London Welsh and Bordeaux-Begles already after both lost their opening games of Pool 4 in the European Rugby Challenge Cup.
Neither side has previously reached the knock-out stages of Europe and a win will be vital to maintain hopes of breaking that duck. London Welsh lost in Lyon but will hope a return to the Kassam Stadium could herald their first win of the season.
And whether Europe proves to be a welcome distraction from their torrid form in the Aviva Premiership or just another hurdle to contend with remains to be seen.
“We’ve seen in the past that French teams are happy to mix up their teams when they’re on the road but that can also make them dangerous,” said head coach Justin Burnell. “That makes them hard to analyse and their unpredictability means the game can change in seconds.
“We know they will have a tough unit up front but also an abundance of flair and finishing threats. This is a team that has put 50 points on Clermont-Auvergne and Castres in the Top 14. So we have to look after the ball because it we cough it up, they can score from anywhere.”
Bordeaux-Begles may be third in the Top 14 but suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of Edinburgh at Stade Andre Moga. That home loss means getting a result in Oxford is now a necessity if they are to retain any hope of reaching the knock-out stages in Europe for the first time.
They will be kicking themselves for allowing a winning position slip to Edinburgh during a disastrous final five minutes. Having led 13-5, Bordeaux conceded a penalty before Matt Graham conceded a penalty try and was binned for infringing at a scrum that set up Tom Heathcote’s game-winning conversion.
Lionel Beauxis pulled the strings and the former France international is again likely to be key at the Kassam Stadium.
Match Facts
- This will be the first ever meeting between these two sides in European competition.
- London Welsh have lost four of their five games against French sides in the Challenge Cup.
- Bordeaux-Bégles have now lost two games in a row in the Challenge Cup after winning three of their previous four.
- Bordeaux-Bégles have lost their last 14 games against opposition from England.
- London Welsh could be on course to both score (189) and concede (198) 200 points in the Challenge Cup.
Jamais menacée
Bordeaux-Begles claimed their biggest away win in Europe for 13 years to leave London Welsh already facing the trap door.
The French side, currently third in the Top 14, crossed seven times at a rain-lashed Kassam Stadium in a 52-20 triumph. It was an emphatic response to a home loss last week to Edinburgh and keeps them in the frame to progress from Pool 4, moving from third to top with six points.
But this result extends Exiles winless start to the season to eight games and already facing an uphill task to progress to the knock-out stage. That was after former England star Olly Barkley kicked the home side ahead as early as the third minute.
A second Barkley penalty after Lucas Blanc’s try kept the Exiles in the game for the first 30 minutes, but he missed with another attempt and once the Top 14 side got into their stride it was game over.
Bordeaux broke lose when wing Metusele Talebula won the race to his own kick from 50 metres out. Hooker Clement Maynadier touched down following a powerful forward drive from a close range line-out and No8 Matthew Clarkin followed to wrap-up the bonus point before half-time.
Welsh staged a brief rally and Gordon Ross’ well-timed pass put Seb Jewell in for a lovely score early in the second half. But Bordeaux simply responded with two tries in the space of four minutes through Pierre Bernard, who also kicked 15 points, and Darly Domvo.
Full-back Domvo scored again a minute from time after Ross set up a second try for Welsh, a quickly taken penalty for Daniel Browne to score.
It was Bordeaux’s highest score away from home in the Challenge Cup since their 83-5 win over Dinamo Bucharest in 2001.
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