It’s an uneven playing ground, the odds are too heavily stacked in favour of the French. It’s just not possible to match them. So say the doomsters anyway.
Except it’s much more nuanced than that. Of course it is. Leinster fielded a full 23-man squad of internationals – 22 Irish and All Black Rieko Ioane – and the Irish remember are currently ranked third in the world, one ahead of France. I reckon 11 of Leinster’s starting team last week are current Ireland starters. No shortage of proven quality there.
Bordeaux in contrast have just two nailed on France starters – Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Matthieu Jalibert – although obviously but for the generational talent and presence of Antonie Dupont, Maxime Lucu would join that duo. I think we can also agree that the current absence of Damian Penuad from the France squad is a tad odd, even for the French.
It’s in the pack though that it gets a bit weird. Bordeaux currently ‘boast’ no starters for France although the sending to Coventry of Cameron Woki by Fabien Galthie is as odd as that of Peneaud.
Leinster in contrast fielded a full Ireland pack including six British and Irish Lions and two more Lions on the bench. And got absolutely dismantled. So I’m a bit sceptical about the French success being purely down to money and purchasing power and the sheer quality of those players on view.
Aussie lock Adam Coleman – now a Tongan – was pretty much anonymous during his nondescript stint at London Irish yet suddenly looks a world beater, while South African prop Carlu Sadie was something of an uncapped journeyman doing the rounds of all the South African provinces before Bordeaux took a chance on him three years ago.
Lock Boris Palu, who played most of his career with Racing, is another stalwart rather than star player. Hooker Maxime Lamothe is a former France U20 captain but thus far has earned just three senior caps while brilliant but unheralded flanker Pierre Bochaton was spotted at lowly Bourg en Bresse and has been slowly brought on since his arrival four years ago.
The Bordeaux pack last week, manifestly, was much greater than the sum of its constituent parts and that’s not so easy to explain. Money, purchasing power, doesn’t do that on its own.
I would imagine that having a back line that can score from anywhere is a pretty good motivator when you are grappling for the pill but I suspect that intangibles like camaraderie come into play along with the very high priority Bordeaux
clearly place on European success. The post-match celebrations were epic to say the least. They really feel it.
Yes, unquestionably the giant French teams have bigger squads but then again, they play a lot more rugby.
Bordeaux will play 29 Top 14 and play-off games this season if they are to retain their title – as opposed to 20 for whoever wins our Premiership – while you can add another eight games on top of that for their latest successful European campaign. And as the French giants tend to go deep in Europe those extra games can normally be inked into their fixture list.
Bordeaux do occasionally rotate for an away Top 14 game… but actually they seem to prefer consistency when possible, my impression is that they turn up pretty well booted and
suited most weeks. They work their well-paid talent very hard.
We love watching them but I see no reason for British and Irish teams to fear them. I thought they were rocking a little and a looking vulnerable in their home semi-final against Bath and had the talismanic Lucu got the red card he so richly deserved for his challenge on Alfie Barbeary it could have been interesting. Another year perhaps they won’t encounter such a lenient referee.
In pursuing their own exhilarating high tempo, adventurous game, Bordeaux are always going to give you a chance. They can leak tries at times and one day that will trip them up… but for now let’s just applaud an exceptional team who grab your attention from start to finish and take our learnings rather than get bitter and twisted with envy.
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