Bordeaux scored 217 points in the pool phase to secure top seeds. They then comfortably beat Ulster, Munster and Toulouse.

In fact, this was their lowest scoring game across the competition.

“Cardiff look out,” says Adam Coleman in some post match chat. They’re staying the night. I wonder how many of them will actually get some sleep.

Another good stat, this one from the South Africa rugby writer Jared Wright:

Arthur Retière has won 3 Champions Cups with 3 different teams:

La Rochelle – 2022

Toulouse – 2024

Bordeaux – 2025.

An interesting stat from the stats wizard Russ Petty:

“Winning captain won player of the match in 5 of last 7 Champions Cup finals, last time before that was 2000”

Big players step up in big games.

Maxime Lucu hoists the trophy with help from Jefferson Poirot. Bordeaux Begles are champions!

Oh, some words from the losing skipper, Fraser Dingwall:

That sums up our season. We were never going to go away but we gave them too many opportunities.

Frustrating when it comes down to small margins.

We stayed in there and forced turnovers but against good teams you can’t keep giving them chances.

As the Northampton players walk up and collect their silver medals, let’s consider how mighty French rugby is at the moment.

The recent winners of the Champions Cup:

• 2021 - Toulouse

• 2022 - La Rochelle

• 2023 - La Rochelle

• 2024 - Toulouse

• 2025 - Bordeaux

Saints took them close. They stayed in it. They just couldn’t quite match Bordeaux’s grunt.

Damian Penaud has been recognised as the Champions Cup player of the tournament.

Here’s what he has to say about that:

Tonight I am very proud of this team. We know that this competition is very difficult. We have to play in two competitions with the Top 14. Tonight is an emotional moment. I’m proud of the team, the president and my family; it’s for them.

This stadium is great, we can’t hear anything and it’s difficult to communicate with each other.

[On the Top 14 double push] First tonight we will drink beer and celebrate. We’ll think of the Top 14 another night.

Here’s the player of the match, the victorious captain, Maxime Lucu:

Thank you for all the support. Thank you for the title. It’s been a very big atmosphere. Thank you all.

Northampton is a very good team. When they win against Leinster, they keep the ball in play. For us we had to defend. We just had to try.

He struggled through that chat in his second (third?) language. But he was clearly buzzing and processing what he’d just achieved.

Where did Northampton lose it?

Denis O’Brien is pointing a stiff finger at their scrumhalf:

“Sorry to say it but Mitchell has lost this final, bad passes and too slow a lot of the time. Amazing game of rugby though!”

I think that’s harsh. I thought he had a really good first half and his kicking game was on point for most of the match. Losing Furbank early played a role in creating backline cohesion. Smith was quiet as well.

Agreed that it was an amazing game. I really enjoyed that.

80 min: Well, they don’t secure the ball and Northampton get to halfway with some slick running and passing. Sleightholme burns some ground and gets to the edge of the 22. A cross-field kick bobbles out and that’s it. Bordeaux-Begles are European champions!

79 min: Sleightholme skews a kick off the side of his boot from his own 22 and Bordeaux will get the line-out throw. Secure the ball, count to 30 seconds, kick it out and they are champions.

79 min: Lucu gets the player of the match award. For my money he’s the second best 9 in the world, after Dupont, and would walk into any other Test team.

79 min: Bordeaux are already celebrating. They’ve never won a major trophy. They’re a minute out from claiming the ultimate prize in club rugby.

78 min: A third consecutive scrum penalty for Saints has Smith kicking to touch to halfway. No or never. It’ll be NEVER! At least tonight. As Langdon knocks on in midfield trying to catch a pass that wasn’t meant for him.

77 min: This game, once fluid and entertaining, has become stodgy. Not that Bordeaux will mind. Another big kick puts the ball back in Saints territory. There’s a spill of the ball and Northampton have the scum feed, but they’re in their own half just beyond their 22.

75 min: It’s a little stodgy from Northampton. A spilled ball in midfield – though a Bordeaux player was surely off-side – disrupts their play. They keep the ball and Sleightholme on the right wing kicks upfield. It hits a Bordeaux leg and goe out. So Saints have the throw which is adjudged to be skew.

74 min: Penalty for Northampton. Quick ball off the scrum and then they go back into the pack of forwards, who are all off-side, and the Saints very cleverly milk an exit.

73 min: Once again Northampton survive a scare! Coles climbs high at the line-out to disrupt Bordeaux’s ball and force the knock-on. So it’ll be a Northampton scrum rather than a Bordeax maul five out from the Saints’ line in the corner. Remarkable. They’re eight points down and 95 metres from where they need to be, but they’re hanging tough.

72 min: AH! Northampton lose their line-out after the penalty. Lockett just can’t reach the throw. Then from the resulting kick into Saints’ territory, Mitchell and Penaud go up for it. Mitchell pulls Penaud and this’ll be a penalty against Northampton inside their own 22. It’s kickable but Jalibert nudges it to the corner.

Those Lucu box kicks are winning this game for Bordeaux. He’s keot Saints pinned down.

71 min: Another scrum penalty for Northampton. Bonface getting the back slaps. Incredible how Saints have stayed in this.

70 min: Bordeaux win a penalty five out from Saints line! They celebrate as if they’ve won the game. Well, sort of. It’s a high kick to the corner that is spilled backwards by the Saints. Penaud climbing up to disrupt Mitchell. He’s knocked it on! What’s going on!?

Sanity prevails and rather than a Bordeaux penalty it’ll be a Northampton scrum. They’re a long way from where they need to be but they’re still in this fight.

69 min: Excellent off the line-out. Multiple phases and Saints are within five. Coles involved throughout. They’re keeping it tight. Is that wise? No! Because Bordeaux turn them and Lucu clears. Litchfield has to mop up under immense pressure. He does well but that’s a missed opportunity for Saints who probably should have given it to their backs sooner.

67 min: Bordeaux give away a penalty for tackling a Northampton player in the air. Moefana I think it was. It’s all getting chaotic – even more so than it was before. So Saints kick it out inside Bordeaux’s 22 and will have the throw. They have to score here.

66 min: Once again Saints show how blistering they can be from first phase play. Frm the scrum they explode into the open space, Freeman leaving his wing, Smith on the loop, it flies to Sleightholme in the right wing. But Mitchell’s first pass from the second phase is loose and Northampton spill the ball on Bordeaux’s 22.

65 min: Slick off the top of the line-out from Saints, they go down the line from coast to coast. Jalibert makes a get steal in the tackle, ripping the ball free. But Pollock returns the favour and rips it back from him. It ends with a knock-on and a Saints feed inside their own half towards the left.

64 min: And they win the scrum penalty! Huge moment! Wow. Hats off to the Saints. They’re a helluva rugby team. They kick out and have the throw between their 22 and halfway on the right.

63 min: Saints have the feed to the scrum five out from their own line.

63 min: Northampton survive! Again! Outstanding maul defence. Scott-Young finds a gap in the Bordeaux maul and ges his body in great position so when Lamothe squirms to dot down, he’s met with a big body wearing green and black and gold. Held up on the line. If Saints win this they’ll point to their fortitude against the maul. Just brilliant.

62 min: Northampton’d defence holds firm. But they give away a penalty as Kemeny infringes. Holding on to Lucu despite being bound to the maul. Jalibert kicks to the corner again. Saints need to dig deep here.

61 min: Off the top of a line-out, Moefana breaks one, two, three tackles in midfield. With front foot ball they flood forward. Another big carry has them within five metres. Saints stray off side and are given a warning for slowing the ball at the ruck inside their own 22. Pollock in from the side and on one knee. Maybe lucky to not get a yellow. The ball is nudged out and Bordeax will likely maul again. One more try might settle this.

59 min: But Bordeaux win the scrum penalty. That’s 148kg Taneifuna who gets the backslaps. Good luck scrumming against that unit. Jalibert hoofs it upfield and now Bordeaux are starting to put the squeeze on.

58 min: Bordeaux can set the tempo now and they’re happy to settle into some kick tennis. Lucu nails a long raking boot. Bielle-Biarrey chases his own up and under. Eventually Retiere puts too much on his punt and it bobbles out over the dead ball line. So Saitns get the scrum feed back where it came from, inside Bordeaux’s half with a big open side on the left.

55 min: Freeman is isolated on halfway and he’s turned over. Bordeaux can’t quite free the ball at first but the consolidate and then get it wide towards the left. They’re up in Saints’ 22. Bielle-Biarrey darts down the tram. Now with the forwards. Tameifuna gets close. Five out…

53 min: Clean from Bordeaux. They win the line-out and Lucu box kicks towards halfway.

52 min: After an age, Northampton get the free kick from the scrum. They lift it high and Freeman chases and wins it in the air. Another little dink from Mitchell from the box finds the corner. From defending their own line they’re on Bordeaux’s.

50 min: Northampton survive! Bordeaux looked odds on to score but somehow the Saints kept them at bay. Sensational defence. All heart! Bielle-Biarrey counters after the clearing kick and then Bordeaux knock on. Wow! Momentum shifts can turn games and this might be one of them. It’s getting niggly as Moefana seemed to grab Dingwall around the neck as he cleared out. No penalty there, though I thought that was clear to me. Anyway. Northampton will have the scrum feed inside their own half and will look to clear.

49 min: But Bordeaux get the penalty anyway – perhaps have an argument for the penalty try – as Northampton committed a ‘leg lift’ in the line-out maul. They’ll come again as Jalibert nudges it out.

48 min: Bielley-Biarry marks and feed Penaud on his right. Penaud kicks behind Smith who cleans up but scuffs his clearance. So Bordeaux charge upfield with Petti. He passes left for Moefana who gathers a brilliant grab on his toes. Bordeaux are camped in Northampton’s 22 until Pollock comes up with a sensational steal. But the Saints can’t clear their lines and that half second invites the breakdown pressure and Bordeaux come up with a penalty on the floor. They kick to the corner. Five out with the line-out.

46 min: Gazotti, on as a replacement, just dubbed the ‘French Henry Pollock’ gives away a penalty in the air. So Northampton kick to touch and have the throw in Bordeaux’s half. 10 in from halfway.

44 min: Ooh, could be another yellow card. Head on head. Prowse – on at half-time for Saints – on Moefana who was carrying. I think this’ll be yellow.

43 min: Pollock has dotted down! But will it be scrapped?

41 min: Mitchell puts in a poor box kick but then gets another chance to put boot and ball and smokes it down field. Bielle-Biarrey picks up under his sticks and skews it wide. Saints with the throw on Bordeaux’s 22.

We’re back. I have no idea which way this is going to go.

One change for Bordeaux who bring on Big Ben Tameifuna to the front row. Can his 148kg make a difference?

Bordeaux to kick off.

If there’s one blight on this game it’s a few dubious calls from the ref.

I do hate making this about the officials, so I’ll let Stephen Holliday speak:

That’s an awful few minutes from the referee. Clear as day yellow card for Bordeaux, not looked at. Very, very tight offside for Northampton, not looked at. No yellow card initially given to Freeman, but then looked at, to then, rightly, give the yellow.
This game is too big for these rushed mistakes.

39 min: Litchfield scuffs a clearance after the restart. Bordeaux - who have six clean breaks to Northampton’s 0 – will throw 10 metres inside opposition territory on the left. Soon after, though, Iyogun makes a huge hit in midfield and his front row mate, Davison, makes an important steal on the deck. One more chance for Saints to strike.

36 min: Brilliance this time from Bielle-Biarrey who gathers, kicks ahead, catches his own kick and then kicks upfield again. Penaud leaps to catch it but knocks it on after a lucky bounce that looped back over the retreating Freeman. In their scramble defence Northampton give away a penalty in their 22.

35 min: Bielle-Biarrey slices a kick straight out. Northampton win the ball at the middle of their line-out on halfway. They go down the line to Sleightholme on the opposite wing. Mitchell keeps the ball alive after some messy service at the back of the ruck. Smith kicks ahead and Pollock is screaming onto it! He’s away! OH NO! He’s called back for being ahead of the kicker. Just in front. He’s fast, but not that fast.

32 min: Another penalty against Bordeaux. Could be another yellow for a deliberate knock-on inside their own 22. No yellow card! No idea why. Cazeaux is a lucky man.

31 min: Northampton turn down the kickable points as Smith goes to the corner. Was it the right call? No! Because Penaud snatches it with an intercept. Northampton win it back through Litchfield’s steal on the floor but the grubber ahead by Smith is fielded by Bielle-Biarrey who hoofs it clear and finds touch around his own 22.

30 min: Northampton stitch a move together with Smith involved. But soon after they knock on in contact with Diaby shelling Mayanavanua. Bordeax have bodies out on the right and they kick ahead. If it stays in play the onrushing Bielle-Biarrey would have gathered and scored. No doubt. But it bobbles out so Northampton will get the line-out back in their own half.

Oooo, or will they get a penalty. Diaby looked high with that shot. Head on head for sure.

26 min: Mitchell does well under pressure on his own line to keep the ball safe for Freeman, who give it s big kick upfield. Bielle-Biarrey comes charging back. Depoortere is put into space by a cute short pass in contact by Jalibert. Penaud is hammered by Lockett and spills the ball. Great defence on a few occasions from Saints who will have the scrum feed 10 metres from their own line.

24 min: Northampton secure the ball after the restart and have it around halfway. Mitchell slows down and Bordeax give away a penalty on the floor. Smith will take aim at the poles from about 50 metres on the angle, towards the left of the sticks as he’s looking at them.

21 min: Blistering from Bielle-Biarrey. From nothing he finds an edge on the right wing – looping in from the left – gets in a corner near the touchline but grubbers ahead. It’s a teaser and Freeman, cantering across, has no choice but to gather and slide out. Bordeaux will throw six metres out on the right.

19 min: Northampton’s scrum gets a strong second shove. They’ve made a mess of the Bordeaux pack. But Pollock won’t release after making a tackle and coughs up a penalty. Bordeaux nudge it back into Saints terriitory, win the line-out and set up an attack down the line just beyond Northampton’s 22.

18 min: No problem with the line-out from Bordeaux. Lucu hammers a big kick but here come Saints. Sleightholme to Freeman wh finds an edge around halfway. They flood forward. It’s well connected but scramble defence in the tram from Bordeaux force a knock-on.

17 min: Bordeax spot a man advantage down a blindside after some kick tennis and Bielle-Biarrey is that man. He chips ahead and Freeman fields. The Saints man lost his feet but gets the benefit of the doubt and Saints come away with it. Now they’re on the edge of Bordeaux’s 22 on the left – it’s been that sort of game. Hutchinson from midfield kicks into the corner and finds touch. Great little grubber spotting the space. Bordeaux will have the throw on their own line.

13 min: Bordeaux look intent on running it wherever possible, but they’re also hammering the breakdown. They’re so aggressive on the floor. Jalibert spots some space as Mitchell rushed up and the French fly-half chopped and chased. He landed it perfectly but the bounce is unkind, rising high and he couldn’t quite get it, knocking it on. Saints win the scrum and go down the blindside where Dingwall is bundled out of touch. Bordeaux take the line-out quickly and kick upfield. Smith knocks on. or did he? Looks like it might have gone backwards. Not according to the ref. Bordeaux have the scrum inside Northampton’s half towards the left touch.

11 min: Saints win their scrum with a mighty shove, but they kick the ball away soon after. Bordeaux keep it til they kick it. Saints return it but Lucu has the final say with a big hoof over halfway that bobbles out of touch.

8 min: Bordeaux win the restart and Lucu dinks over the onrushing Saints line. Penaud won it, but knocked it on under contact. Saints scrum just inside opposition territory.

5 min: Furbank – who only just returned to the group – is receiving treatment. He copped a knee to the head in the all the madness as he defended Lucu’s high cross-field kick. What do Saints do here? Hutchinson might move to fullback from midfield. Not an ideal start (despite, of course, the opening try).

Saints will have to defend their line with Bordeax five out. Lucu kicked with a penalty advantage. Jalibert is shaping to kick to the corner but there is a delay as Furbank was knocked out by a stray knee. They’re prepping the stretcher. He’s leaving now to the sound of applause on the back of a cart. What a sad end to his match.

Right. Jalibert kicks to the corner. Five out.

5 min: It’s chaos. Bordeaux try several times to rumble over from close range. Northampton hold firm. Lucu tries a long cross-field kick from coast to coast. Penaud and Furbank go up. The ball is spilled but both players land with a thud. No foul play. Furbank looks in a bad way and he might be out of the game. That’ll be two of the Saints back three injured within five minutes. Litchfield is primed and ready to go. What a shame for the Saints.

4 min: Bordeaux win a penalty, nudge it out and then secure the line-out. Jalibert spots a gap in the corner and nudges a perfect kick. Mitchell, with Bielle-Biarey breathing down his neck, has no choice but to run it out. Bordeaux will have the throw five out.

3 min: What a shame. Ramm is hobbling off. Sleightholme replaces him.

2 min: Langdon is a metre out. They’re hammering the line. Coles reaches out…

1 min: Saints kick off and secure the ball. Coles has a charge. So does Davison. Now they go down the line, Fuerbank floats one out to Hutchinson who is held up by Bielle-Biarey. Jalibert nicks it but there’s an advantage that Mitchell takes quickly…

The players are in the tunnel.

Oh, Bordeaux have gone with a 6-2 split. Northampton are sticking with a 5-3.

Is that a sign of how they intend to go about their business?

Out they come to fireworks and loud music and manic cheers. This feels like a serious event.

Lawrence Dallaglio on Premier Sports has the final word of the build up. He’s backing Saints to win.

If you’re going to press me to make a prediction I think that Bordeaux’s pack will be the difference. Both sides have the firepower out wide and through midfield, but it’ll come down to the heavies and their ability to get the flyers enough ball.

Then again, I thought the same in the Leinster game and Northampton proved me wrong there.

Aaaah! I just don’t know. OK, time to make a call. Bordeaux to edge a thriller by less than a score. The only way Northampton win this (in my humble opinion) is if they storm to a 10+ point lead early doors and manage to match Bordeaux score for score thereafter. But I don’t see it happening.

Quick, get your predictions in before the game starts.

Phil Dowson is chatting with Premier Sports:

Are we a team that is more than the sum of its parts? I believe that we are.

We’re blessed to have guys who have come through [the academy] together.

We need to make sure we focus on our performance. The players have spoken how [beating Leinster] can’t be the pinnacle of our season.

STAT ALERT! Bordeaux have scored more tries from their own half than they have from moves starting in the opposition’s territory.

Maybe read that again. That is staggering!

Perhaps it’s no surprise when they have Louis Bielle-Biarrey who this week won the Pat Marshall Memorial Award, handed out by the Rugby Union Writers’ Club.

The 21-year-old is the youngest to ever win this prestigious gong but he’s more than deserving, having dotted down for 31 tries for club and country this season.

Naturally so much of the prematch chat has focussed on Henry Pollock.

His England coach, Steve Borthwick, reckons he’s in with a shout of starting for the Lions this summer. I’m not so sure myself – though I’d have him coming off the bench.

He’s a game changer. But can he handle the extra heft of this Bordeaux pack? His personal battle with Samu could be the difference maker in this contest.

Here’s Borthwick on the starboy of the moment:

Shout out to Paul Moody in Brazil who has written in:

“Am excited. About this too. Drama awaits”

A man of few words. But what else needs to be said? Things are hotting up!

While we wait, get stuck into some more top writing.

Here’s Ugo Monye encouraging Northampton to let rip and attack, attack, ATTACK! No surprise from the former Quins, England and Lions winger – that’s his attitude more or less with every rugby match. But on this one he’s spot on. No sense in the Saints going away from what’s brought them so much success over the past two seasons.

There’s loads of great reading to get you in the mood for this one.

Let’s kick off with a ripping chat between Fin Smith and Don McRae:

And when you’re done with that, here’s Rob Kitson on Northampton’s ‘mix of ingredients’:

This could be an iconic day for English rugby.

With Bath lifting the Challenge Cup last night, with Ben Spencer and Finn Russell leading the way, a Northampton win would mark a historic double for the Premiership.

Read Rob Kitson’s report here: