Two English challenges in France, both blown to smithereens. After Toulouse obliterated Bristol in the first instalment of a two-part special, the sequel for Leicester was just as depressing, with the Tigers put to the sword by Bordeaux in Europe’s last-16. Men against boys.
The reigning champions ran in nine tries in sunny south-west France, with their Les Bleus trio, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Damian Penaud and Matthieu Jalibert, running riot. It is going to take a magnificent team to stop Bordeaux in this year’s Champions Cup, but they face exactly that next weekend. Bordeaux, and their Patrouille de France back line – named after France’s equivalent of the Red Arrows – will host Toulouse in what is shaping up to be a quarter-final for the ages; the team which emerges victorious will surely go all the way.
Neither Bristol in Toulouse on Saturday nor Leicester in Bordeaux on Sunday came anywhere close to ruffling French feathers. A familiar story. Comparing the Top 14 with the Prem is often a futile exercise but, right now, the two French aristocrats are on another planet to their cross-Channel counterparts. At times, on Sunday, it looked as though Bordeaux were playing a different sport to Leicester. Despite mandatory rest for Ollie Chessum, Joe Heyes and Nicky Smith, the Tigers arrived in the world’s wine capital flowing with silky optimism, on a run of seven straight victories. They left corked, exiting this competition at the last-16 stage for the fourth successive season.
What damage this defeat inflicts on Leicester’s morale remains to be seen. The Tigers are well placed in the Prem, sitting in the third of four play-off spots, but this was an epic humbling. Leicester clung on in the first 20 minutes, holding their wondrous opponents to 3-0 after a Maxime Lucu penalty, but as soon as Cameron Woki stretched his enormous wingspan to score, the floodgates opened. Bordeaux led 36-0 at half-time and that was game over.
“We are incredibly frustrated,” Geoff Parling, the Leicester head coach, said. “We have been moving the ball well but that should never be at the expense of our basics, and today at times it was. It fed their game and what they wanted.
“We now have a choice as to whether we have six, seven or eight Prem games together as a group.”
Leicester did not help themselves at times – some of the front-line defence, particularly in the first half, was woeful – but the Tigers were fighting fires everywhere. If Bielle-Biarrey, with his iconic red scrum cap, was not cutting them to shreds, then Jalibert was, or Lucu, one of European rugby’s most underrated players, was squeezing them out of the contest. The ovation that Lucu, Bordeaux’s scrum-half and captain, received on 50 minutes as he departed was cacophonous; as was the roar which Ben Tameifuna ignited when the wardrobe on wheels thundered over to score. If Bordeaux cannot go around you, they will go through you.
But when they do go round you, it is breathtaking. After Woki had opened the scoring from close range, Penaud and Marko Gazzotti burst through the Leicester defence before a delightful one-two between Bielle-Biarrey and Salesi Rayasi, with the Fijian crossing for the first of his hat-trick. Bielle-Biarrey, the men’s Six Nations player of the championship, was at it again moments later, as he ghosted between Will Hurd and Olly Cracknell, daydreaming on the kick-chase, to feed Lucu to score.
The red-topped phantom added one of his own, beating Jamie Blamire and rounding Freddie Steward to score from long range and that, at 29-0, was the end of the Leicester challenge. The crowd knew it, too, breaking out into a chorus of La Marseillaise. Maxime Lamothe’s try on the stroke of half-time, with Penaud having weaved and offloaded magically in the build-up, rubbed salt into Leicester wounds.
The hefty Tigers travelling support did, at least, have a couple of moments to cheer. Izaia Perese raced away shortly after half-time thanks to an interception of Penaud, and Billy Searle darted in at the corner. The embarrassment of a zero scoreline was spared.
But Bordeaux showed no mercy. Rayasi crossed on two further occasions, the second of which came after some spellbinding footwork to leave both Steward and Ollie Hassell-Collins for dead.
Outclassed, outfought and out-thought, the challenge now for Leicester is to ensure that there is a response. For Bordeaux, it might only be Toulouse who can stand between them and an historic European and domestic double.
Match details
Scoring sequence: 3-0 Lucu pen, 8-0 Woki try, 10-0 Lucu con, 15-0 Rayasi try, 20-0 Lucu try, 22-0 Lucu con, 27-0 Bielle-Biarrey try, 29-0 Lucu con, 34-0 Lamothe try, 36-0 Lucu try, 36-5 Perese try, 36-7 Searle con, 41-7 Tameifuna try, 43-7 Lucu con, 43-12 Searle con, 43-14 Searle con, 48-14 Rayasi try, 50-14 Reus con, 55-14 Retiere try, 57-14 Reus con, 62-14 Rayasi try, 64-14 Reus con.
Bordeaux: S Rayasi; P Uberti, D Penaud, Y Moefana (Janse van Rensburg 50, Reus 51), L Bielle-Biarrey; M Jalibert, M Lucu (capt, Retiere 50); J Poirot (Perchaud 46), M Lamothe (Barlot 58), C Sadie (Tameifuna 46), B Palu, A Coleman (Bochaton 64), B Vergnes-Taillefer, C Woki, M Gazzotti (Matiu 58).
Leicester: F Steward; A Radwan, I Perese (Wand 60), J Woodward (Searle 41), O Hassell-Collins; J O’Connor, J van Poortvliet (Whiteley 54); A van der Flier (Haffar 47), J Blamire (Clare 47), W Hurd (Loman 47), H Liebenberg (c), H Wells, J Moro, J Manz (Palmer 38), O Cracknell (Henderson 54).
Referee: Andrew Brace (Wales).
Attendance: 32,930.
Ben Tameifuna speaking to Premier Sports
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“It is huge. It is one thing to win one title but to win back-to-back titles is even harder. It [next weekend’s quarter-final against Toulouse] is going to be huge. They [Toulouse] proved what a quality side they are yesterday. It is a big week ahead and a big one for the city.”
Leicester’s next five games
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With their Champions Cup campaign at an end, Leicester’s focus is now solely on the Gallagher Prem, where they sit third.
April 18: Leicester vs Newcastle
April 25: Saracens vs Leicester
May 9: Leicester vs Northampton
May 17: Sale vs Leicester
May 31: Leicester vs Exeter
Next weekend’s quarter-finals
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Just one more last-16 tie to come and here is how the quarter-finals are shaping up for next weekend:
Bath vs Northampton
Glasgow vs Toulon
Bordeaux vs Toulouse
Leinster/ Edinburgh vs Sale
Last-16 ties
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Friday:
Northampton 49 Castres 41
Saturday:
Bath 31 Saracens 22
Toulon 28 Stormers 27
Glasgow 25 Bulls 21
Toulouse 59 Bristol 26
Harlequins 17 Sale 26
Today:
Bordeaux 64 Leicester 14
Leinster vs Edinburgh 5.30pm
Just one more game to come this weekend in Dublin where Leinster host Edinburgh for the final spot in next weekend’s quarter-finals.
Full time
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Leicester win another penalty and take the quick tap but are caught holding on. Bordeaux boot the ball out of play and they have cruised into the quarter-finals, thrashing Leicester 64-14. Bordeaux set up a mouthwatering quarter-final next weekend against Toulouse. That will be a must-watch game. Leicester’s Champions Cup campaign for this season comes to an end.
80 mins: Bordeaux 64 Leicester 14
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As the clock hits the red, Leicester are awarded a penalty just outside the Bordeaux 22, which they put into the corner as they look to end a chastening afternoon on a high.
TRY! Rayasi completes hat-trick
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The full-back was sublime against Leicester’s Midlands rivals Northampton earlier the season and he completes his hat-trick. It is a stunning solo try as he steps Steward and then goes around Radwan to score. Rayasi made both Steward and Radwan look very silly.
75 mins: Bordeaux 57 Leicester 14
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La Marseillaise rings around the Stade Chaban-Delmas as the Bordeaux fans can look forward to a mouthwatering contest against Toulouse next weekend.
TRY! Retiere scores Bordeaux’s eighth on the day
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That score sums up the threat Bordeaux pose. They not only power through tackles and show great physicality but also offload brilliantly and keep the game alive by playing at such great pace as Retiere finishes it off for the hosts.
TRY! Rayasi over for Bordeaux
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They have lacked rhythm since the break but finally find their flow again. With a penalty advantage in hand, Reus dribbles a lovely grubber kick through and Rayasi has the speed to get on the end of it to dot down before the ball ran dead. Reus adds the conversion and Bordeaux hit the 50-point mark.
67 mins: Bordeaux 43 Leicester 14
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Bordeaux are in possession inside the Leicester 22 and now have a penalty advantage for offside...
65 mins: Bordeaux 43 Leicester 14
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Bordeaux’s flow has not been the same since the break and perhaps one of the biggest reasons why might be the substitutions. They have scored one try since half-time, compared to five in the first half.
63 mins: Bordeaux 43 Leicester 14
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Leicester win a penalty inside the Bordeaux 22 as the home side are caught sealing off. The visitors then take a quick tap. Leicester go through a number of phases inside the 22 but are then caught holding on. Easy to say with hindsight but Leicester should have shown some more composure and put that into the corner rather than take a quick tap.
60 mins: Bordeaux 43 Leicester 14
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Leicester have definitely given a better of account of themselves in this second half than they did in the first. They have outscored Bordeaux 14-7 since the break.
58 mins: Bordeaux 43 Leicester 14
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Two changes for Bordeaux as Barlot and Matiu come on in the pack.
TRY! Searle over for Leicester’s second
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The result has long gone but Leicester are not just going to go down with a whimper. Leicester are in possession inside the Bordeaux 22 and Searle calls for play to come down the blindside. The replacement fly-half spots space and goes over untouched. All too easy that score. Searle converts his own try.
54 mins: Bordeaux 43 Leicester 7
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Bordeaux are within 10 metres of the Leicester line but the ball is knocked on.
53 mins: Bordeaux 43 Leicester 7
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That is an outstanding kick from Jalibert, who from just outside his own 22 puts a sublime kick in behind and the ball rolls into touch deep in the Leicester 22 for a 50:22.
52 mins: Bordeaux 43 Leicester 7
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This is worrying for Janse van Rensburg, who is only just on the pitch but a matter of seconds after coming on he has gone down with a non-contact injury. He had a number of injuries during his time at Sale and he is being helped off with what looks like an injury to his Achilles potentially. Reus is now on.
51 mins: Bordeaux 43 Leicester 7
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Two changes in the Bordeaux backline as Retiere and former Sale centre Janse van Rensburg come on. Lucu is one of those to come off and receives a standing ovation. The Bordeaux fans love him.
50 mins: Bordeaux 43 Leicester 7
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Leicester are on the attack on the fringes of the Bordeaux 22 but the move is ended as van Poortvliet is obliterated by a huge hit from Moefana that forces a knock-on. Moefana was lining that one up and smashes van Poortvliet as soon as the Leicester scrum-half caught a pass.
48 mins: Bordeaux 43 Leicester 7
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Geoff Parling has changed his entire front-row as Clare, Haffar and Loman are on.
TRY! Tameifuna powers his way over
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He is only just onto the pitch but what a score that was from the tighthead prop. The way that Bordeaux keep it alive through constantly offloading the ball is sensational. The handling from the forwards is unbelievable as they keep the attack moving forward and it ends with Tameifuna bursting through a few tackles to score under the posts. Tameifuna is a rather difficult man to bring down in full flight.
That Tameifuna try was just absurd. A wardrobe on wheels. Not only can can Bordeaux go round you, but through you, too. Petrifying.
46 mins: Bordeaux 36 Leicester 7
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Two changes in the Bordeaux front-row as the imposing figure of Tameifuna and Perchaud come on for Sadie and Poirot.
TRY! Perese gets Leicester on the board
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It was a first half to forget for Leicester but finally their travelling support has something to cheer about. Bordeaux are on the attack near the Leicester 22 but Perese intercepts Penaud’s pass and has the wheels to accelerate away to score. He showed good pace there Perese as he had Bielle-Biarrey chasing him down. Searle adds the extras.
42 mins: Bordeaux 36 Leicester 0
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For what feels like the first time in a age, Leicester finally have the ball on the Bordeaux 22 but are caught holding on so the chance is gone.
41 mins: Bordeaux 36 Leicester 0
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Leicester made a change at the break as Searle came on for Woodward. That will see O’Connor move from 10 to 12 to allow Searle to come on at fly-half.
Second half
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We are back under way at Stade Chaban-Delmas. The result is beyond Leicester but can they restore some pride in the second half? Or will Bordeaux continue to run riot in the sunshine?
“Unplayable”
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That is how former Ireland full-back Rob Kearney has described Louis Bielle-Biarrey on Premier Sports at the break. Hard to disagree with that assessment. A reminder that Bielle-Biarrey is just 22-years-old!
What do you do?
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What will Geoff Parling be saying to his side in the dressing room at half-time. Bordeaux, in this form, are so tough to stop and Leicester have no answer. Their defence held up for the first 20 minutes but the dam has well and truly burst ever since. Like Bristol yesterday, the game has gone but Leicester will want to restore some pride in the second half. They have barely had the ball but when they do get it they need to take better care of it.
Half-time
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Leicester are relieved just to kick the ball off the pitch and get off the field. Bordeaux have torn Leicester to shreds and lead 36-0 at the break. It feels similar to what Toulouse did in the first half to Bristol yesterday. That was as one-sided a half you will ever see.
TRY! Lamothe finishes off after sublime play from Jalibert
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The home fans are certainly enjoying themselves as their side are running riot. They are on the attack once more and Jalibert makes the break, displaying great footwork, before offloading to Lamothe, who goes over. Lucu adds the extras.
37 mins: Bordeaux 29 Leicester 0
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Swiftly, this has turned from Mission Impossible into Mission Damage Limitation for Leicester. The game is gone, but there are tonnes of Tigers fans in south-west France who are all desperate for something, anything, to cheer.
TRY! Yet more brilliance from Bielle-Biarrey
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Bordeaux are purring and this is getting ugly for Leicester. It is all about Bielle-Biarrey, who is so, so good. He makes the break from inside his own half and races clear into the Leicester half. He is one-on-one with Steward and makes the Leicester full-back look silly as he fakes going inside and steps around the outside of Steward to score. Simply outstanding from Bielle-Biarrey. Lucu adds the extras. The dam has well and truly burst.
TRY! Lucu finishes off after Bielle-Biarrey brilliance
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The winger was denied a try moments ago but he now has a sublime assist to his name. Bielle-Biarrey breaks a tackle on halfway and sprints towards the Leicester 22. He shows great footwork before waiting for support, offloading to Lucu to allow the scrum-half to go over. Lucu converts his own try and Bordeaux’s lead grows to 22 points.
32 mins: Bordeaux 15 Leicester 0
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Has Bielle-Biarrey scored in the corner? Leicester do well to stop the maul but the danger is on as Bordeaux shift it into the hands of their backs. The ball is moved from right to left and it is a straight foot-race between two of the fastest men around, Bielle-Biarrey and Radwan. Bielle-Biarrey goes for an acrobatic finish in the corner but the winger dots down on the touchline in the dead-ball zone so it will not count.
31 mins: Bordeaux 15 Leicester 0
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Another penalty goes Bordeaux’s way at the scrum and Leicester’s front-row needs to be careful as a yellow card could be coming soon. Jalibert puts it into the corner and Leicester are under huge pressure.
TRY! Rayasi finishes off sublime move for the hosts
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That is Bordeaux at their best. The offloading is off the charts and the speed of ball is so dangerous. The hosts keep it moving so quickly and Jalibert fizzes a pass out to Rayasi. The full-back passes to his left to find Bielle-Biarrey, who takes Bordeaux into the Leicester 22. Unselfishly, he repays the favour by passing back inside for Rayasi to score. Rayasi was unbelievable when Bordeaux thrashed Northampton during the pool stages. Lucu cannot add the conversion.
It is still early days but that second try for Bordeaux, scored by Salesi Rayasi, feels significant. If the challenge wasn’t already uphill for Leicester, it is now positively vertiginous, giving their hosts a 15-point headstart.
24 mins: Bordeaux 10 Leicester 0
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Leicester are struggling to maintain possession for any period of time, the latest example a real waste as Blamire’s throw at a lineout on the Bordeaux 22 is not straight. Against a side as good as Bordeaux, Leicester have to take those attacking opportunities.
TRY! Woki powers over for Bordeaux
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The home side have been knocking on the door and have their first try of the game. Leicester initially disrupt the Bordeaux maul and think they are about to steal possession but Bordeaux keep the ball. Lamothe carries hard down the left touchline to within five metres of the Leicester line. A few phases later, Woki stretches out his Inspector Gadget-esque arms to score. Lucu nails the conversion and Bordeaux lead by 10.
20 mins: Bordeaux 3 Leicester 0
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Bordeaux win their second scrum penalty of the game on halfway. The front five of Leicester’ scrum is missing Nicky Smith, Joe Heyes and Ollie Chessum today so it will be hard for them to have parity with the Bordeaux pack. Jalibert takes the hosts towards the Leicester 22.
14 mins: Bordeaux 3 Leicester 0
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It has been all hands to the pump for Leicester in defence but so far the visitors are standing firm. Bordeaux are having all the possession but only have three points to show for it.
12 mins: Bordeaux 3 Leicester 0
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Bordeaux roll over the line and the home fans celebrate but that joy is short-lived as referee Andrew Brace has penalised the hosts for obstruction in the rolling maul. Leicester have been on the back foot thus far but are only three points behind; the visitors might be relieved at the scoreline through 12 minutes.
Again, another victory there for Leicester as Bordeaux infringe as their own maul piles over the visiting tryline. Discipline an undoubted worry for the Tigers, though.
10 mins: Bordeaux 3 Leicester 0
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Leicester’s ill-discipline is costing them right now as a tackle off the ball gifts Bordeaux another penalty. Bordeaux actually nearly used that advantage to great effect with Jalibert chipping ahead and re-gathering the kick but moments later the ball is knocked on inside the Leicester 22. We come back for the penalty and Leicester need to be careful as a card could be coming soon.
Bordeaux go to the corner...
8 mins: Bordeaux 3 Leicester 0
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Leicester were under the cosh there but forcing Bordeaux to take three points, albeit easily, should definitely be taken as a minor victory for the visitors.
PENALTY BORDEAUX!
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Lucu is on kicking duties for the hosts and it is an easy kick for the scrum-half. Bordeaux take a 3-0 lead.
6 mins: Bordeaux 0 Leicester 0
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Lamothe is on the receiving end of another high tackle, this time from Liebenberg, and referee Andrew Brace is already warning Leicester about these high shots. This time, Bordeaux opt for the pragmatic decision to go for the easy three...
4 mins: Bordeaux 0 Leicester 0
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Bordeaux make their first foray into the Leicester 22 and are then awarded a penalty for a high shot by Cracknell on Lamothe. It is just a penalty only and Jalibert has no thoughts about going for three, putting it into the corner.
2 mins: Bordeaux 0 Leicester 0
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Nearly the perfect start for Leicester as Hassell-Collins thinks he is in but the pass goes forward. Lucu has a box-kick charged down inside his own 22 before Jalibert is forced into a hurried clearance. Leicester then counter and Steward takes them into the Bordeaux 22. The visitors have numbers to the left but the final pass goes forward. Had the pass been a good one, Hassell-Collins would have scored in the corner.
The first scrum of the game then results in a Bordeaux penalty.
Kick-off
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We are under way at Stade Chaban-Delmas. Can Leicester pull off a shock victory at the home of the defending champions?
Long, long walk
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We are just moments away from kick-off but both sides have a long way to walk from the dressing rooms to the pitch. It is probably the longest journey in rugby to be honest so you have to give yourself plenty of time to make that walk. The sun is shining in Bordeaux and the weather is perfect for some running rugby.
Reminder of the teams
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Bordeaux starting XV: 15 Salesi Rayasi, 14 Pablo Uberti, 13 Damian Penaud, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Maxime Lucu, 1 Jefferson Poirot, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 3 Carlu Sadie, 4 Boris Palu, 5 Adam Coleman, 6 Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, 7 Cameron Woki, 8 Marko Gazzotti.
Replacements: 16 Gaetan Barlot, 17 Matis Perchaud, 18 Ben Tameifuna, 19 Pierre Bochaton, 20 Temo Matiu, 21 Arthur Retiere, 22 Hugo Reus, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg.
Leicester starting XV: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Izaia Perese, 12 Joseph Woodward, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 1 Archie van der Flier, 2 Jamie Blamire, 3 Will Hurd, 4 Hanro Liebenberg, 5 Harry Wells, 6 Joaquin Moro, 7 Joshua Manz, 8 Olly Cracknell.
Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 Tarek Haffar, 18 Ale Loman, 19 Cameron Henderson, 20 Harry Palmer, 21 Tom Whiteley, 22 Billy Searle, 23 Will Wand.
Star of the Six Nations
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For the second year running, Bordeaux and France winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey has been named Player of the Championship as France lifted the Six Nations trophy. He is just 22-years-old and ran in nine tries during this year’s Six Nations. Will he be on the scoresheet this afternoon? You would be a bold man to say no.
Strength in depth
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To sum up the challenge facing Leicester today against the defending champions, you only need to look at some of the players not in the Bordeaux squad today. Their matchday 23 is jam-packed with starts like Matthieu Jalibert, Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Damian Penaud but when you take a look at some missing from the 23 there are a number of internationals not involved. Romain Buros, Joey Carbery, Nicolas Depoortere, Jean-Luc du Preez and Martin Page-Relo are not playing today and potentially all of those would be in the Leicester starting XV today if they swapped teams.
Opting for experience
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Leicester head coach Geoff Parling has decided to give James O’Connor the starting berth at fly-half over Billy Searle, who has started their last two Prem victories over Bristol and Gloucester. The 35-year-old Australian O’Connor has a wealth of experience both internationally and domestically and has experience playing in the Top 14 at Toulon.
How these sides fared during the pool stages
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Leicester:
Round one- La Rochelle 39 Leicester 20
Round two- Leicester 15 Leinster 23
Round three- Leicester 57 Bayonne 14
Round four- Stormers 39 Leicester 26
Bordeaux:
Round one- Bulls 33 Bordeaux 46
Round two- Bordeaux 50 Scarlets 21
Round three- Bordeaux 50 Northampton 28
Round four- Bristol 15 Bordeaux 27
“Fighting fires”
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Given the balmy conditions in south-west France and the lethal weapons in Bordeaux’s arsenal - all of Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Damian Penaud and Matthieu Jalibert start today at the febrile Stade Chaban-Delmas - one would be forgiven for thinking that most of Leicester’s afternoon would be spent fighting fires out wide. However, the Tigers have picked a handy backline of their own, full of pace and power - Adam Radwan and Izaia Perese both start - but, if the visitors are to pull off something miraculous, it will be at the coal-face where they must be squeaky clean. It is a massive afternoon for young loosehead Archie van der Flier against Carlü Sadie; the South African absolutely marmelised the Northampton scrum back in January and if the lightning strikes twice today it could be a very long afternoon indeed for Leicester.
Last-16 ties
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Friday:
Northampton 49 Castres 41
Saturday:
Bath 31 Saracens 22
Toulon 28 Stormers 27
Glasgow 25 Bulls 21
Toulouse 59 Bristol 26
Harlequins 17 Sale 26
Today:
Bordeaux vs Leicester 3pm
Leinster vs Edinburgh 5.30pm
Three English clubs are already through in the form of Northampton, Bath and Sale but Leicester have a huge job on their hands to make it four English teams into the quarter-finals. Northampton will play Bath in the quarter-finals whilst Sale will face the winner of the game between Leinster and Edinburgh later today. If Leicester manage to beat Bordeaux, they would then face Toulouse. Only one team has won away from home this weekend and that was Sale, although most away teams have put up a great fight.
View from on the ground
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— Charles Richardson (@CharlesRTel) April 5, 2026Three English sides into the Champions Cup quarters - will there be a fourth today?
The odds are stacked against Leicester, facing reigning champions Bordeaux. Victory, with no Chessum, Heyes or Smith in the pack, would surely rank among the very best in Tigers history. pic.twitter.com/IxyNGn32x4
Teams
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Bordeaux starting XV: 15 Salesi Rayasi, 14 Pablo Uberti, 13 Damian Penaud, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Maxime Lucu, 1 Jefferson Poirot, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 3 Carlu Sadie, 4 Boris Palu, 5 Adam Coleman, 6 Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, 7 Cameron Woki, 8 Marko Gazzotti.
Replacements: 16 Gaetan Barlot, 17 Matis Perchaud, 18 Ben Tameifuna, 19 Pierre Bochaton, 20 Temo Matiu, 21 Arthur Retiere, 22 Hugo Reus, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg.
Leicester starting XV: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Izaia Perese, 12 Joseph Woodward, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 1 Archie van der Flier, 2 Jamie Blamire, 3 Will Hurd, 4 Hanro Liebenberg, 5 Harry Wells, 6 Joaquin Moro, 7 Joshua Manz, 8 Olly Cracknell.
Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 Tarek Haffar, 18 Ale Loman, 19 Cameron Henderson, 20 Harry Palmer, 21 Tom Whiteley, 22 Billy Searle, 23 Will Wand.
A place in the quarter-finals at stake
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Leicester face one of the most daunting games in European rugby as they have travelled to defending champions Bordeaux in the last 16 of the Champions Cup. Leicester’s cause is not helped by the fact that they have travelled to France without a trio of key forwards; Joe Heyes, Ollie Chessum and Nicky Smith, who are all taking their mandatory rest week following the Six Nations.
“It is a real balancing act, and I do not think there is any cast iron, right or wrong (decision),” said Leicester head coach Geoff Parling. “We had the advantage against Bristol, that there was an eight-day turnaround at the end of the Six Nations games, so I wanted to use that. It was third versus fourth at the time as well.
“And then, Gloucester, I almost felt like if I just kept rolling them, rolling them for those two weeks, and then give them a break, a deserved break, an emotional break, not just a physical break. But there is no right or wrong. You feel like you are constantly poking and prodding and trying to figure out the best thing to do. We know the rules. It is the same for every club, and I suppose that is what happens when you have top-quality players. You would rather have that problem than not have that problem in a way.”
Having won the Prem Rugby Cup last month, Leicester have won back-to-back league games since the resumption to the Prem after the Six Nations, beating Bristol and Gloucester, to leave them third in the Gallagher Prem. They did though win just one of their pool games, a convincing home victory over Bayonne, but fell to defeat to Leinster, La Rochelle and the Stormers.
“We have been slightly frustrated in this competition in that when we played Stormers away for example, we got the bonus point which we needed to go through but we lost the game even though we did some really good stuff,” Parling added. “I think this is a chance for us to grow ourselves and test ourselves against one of Europe’s best. They are a quality opposition, but the way we play our game, as long as we are on and get some bits right then we can achieve some good things.
“They (Bordeaux) are very good at transitions, that is the main thing for me. If you lose the ball, they are one of the very best at exploiting that, both through their hands and their feet. You have got to try and limit their transitions which is easier said than done but they have got threats everywhere, I am aware they are a quality team.”
Bordeaux, who beat Northampton in last year’s final, come into the knockout stages as top seeds, having won all of their group-stage games and topping Pool 4. They beat two English sides in Northampton and Bristol during the pool stages. Bordeaux are fourth in the Top 14 and come into today’s game off the back of a 21-17 win at Lyon last weekend.
The winner of this tie will face six-time winners Toulouse in the quarter-finals next weekend. Kick-off from Bordeaux is at 3pm.