European Champions Cup Play off Gloucester v Bordeaux-Begles: As Sir Saw It

Recently, I have started every new challenge, or prospective blog, with an internal monologue, a strange introduction inside my head to get myself ready to what's to come. today, it went a little like this: "Welcome to Sixways, home of Worcester Warriors… and today, Gloucester Rugby. Gloucester have been forced to play this fixture at Sixways, after some pessimistic planning had the Kingsholme pitch occupied by a stage. Gloucester fans turned this into a truly home stage, bringing the enthusiasm to the home of the newly promoted Worcester. Gloucester were forced into a late change. Henry Purdy is on the left wing for England hopeful Jonny May, who’s out because of illness, and McColl takes Purdy’s place on the bench. Had Bordeaux won last weekend, they would have been spared this play off, coming in 6^th place instead of Oyonnax. Could that be playing on their thoughts?" Perhaps that's the performer in me, perhaps I'm just mad. I'll let a psychologist work that out for me in a few years, but for today, we had rugby to watch. 

Gloucester kicked off the first half. An exciting opening five minutes saw sustained pressure from the home side, and Gloucester turned possession into a penalty with an offside by Bordeaux. Twelvetrees pointed to the posts, and Laidlaw lined it up to score the opening points. Gloucester lost the first scrum against the head, but Le Bourhis was penalised for not releasing. Bordeaux appeared to have the stronger scrum, and a huge threat from Metuisela Talebula after a quick penalty was taken quickly. The net gain of the play though leads to a Bordeaux lineout on the half way line.

Billy Meakes impressed early, lining up a tackle, then claiming the ball at the ruck.  The scrum had been good, so our first reset was unfortunate. Jefferson Poirot looked to me to have his elbow down very low and almost took it down first. Next scrum, he’s penalised for taking it down, and Twelvetrees points to posts again. Laidlaw scored the points, 6-0, with just 10 minutes gone.

Handling by Bordeaux looks very loose, as two badly handled passes forced Bordeaux into their own 22. Neither team were particularly threatening the lines, but as soon as I wrote that, Purdy showed his pace, and looks to have set Ross Moriarty for a try, but a tackle on Purdy found he had not released it and referee Hodges says no try, and penalty Bordeaux.

Sharples stared again, gathering a kick that went loose and sprinting along the right wing. The ball was worked to the left and Hook chipped over to Purdy into score. Hodges goes to the TMO, and for my money, Purdy’s left foot hit the chalk. But it was given, and the conversion scored so 13-0 at 16 minutes. Another penalty a minute later gave Laidlaw a chance to kick a long range attempt, but it went wide, despite having the distance. After the kick, Gloucester had a scrum and the backs set up in a diamond, leaving the right wing undefended. A tactic like that could be risky if nothing comes from Gloucester’s scrum, but Laidlaw took it down the blindside against four Frenchmen. Hibbard ended the move after dropping the ball as he was tackled. Ball retention is not a skill for either side today, proven when Bordeaux lost control at the base of a ruck, then gave away a penalty for diving off their feet. Laidlaw looked to make up for his wide attempt earlier and made the score 16-0 after 24 minutes. Blair Connor looked to be in with a chance, after receiving a switch pass and cutting through the Cherry defence. His grubber kick was stopped by a Gloucester wall, and the ball was knocked on by a supporting Bordeaux man. Gloucester’s scrum collapsed under the pressure, something that has plagued them of late, and Bordeaux opted to take the three points on offer. 16-3, as Pierre Bernard put Bordeaux on the board after 28 minutes. Laidlaw nullified the score in the 32^nd minute. Bordeaux want to play a good game, and knowing a free shot was there, Bernard kicked across to Connor, who did very well to keep it in play. The attempt comes to nothing though, as Hodges gave the penalty. Bernard scored the points, narrowing the gap to 13.

Not wanting to be out done for flair, Hook broke through the defensive line, but his pass back inside gets turned over. Gloucester now looked to be playing good attacking rugby, but when the offloads don’t go to plan, Moriarty spilt it to Talebula, who ran from his own 22 to score under the posts. Bernard kicked the extras, making the score 19-13 as we went into half time.

A new tactic was on show from the Bordeaux men, as they opted not to compete at any rucks. Bordeaux were sustaining an attack on Gloucester, but struggled to get past the 22. The back row and Connor were particularly impressive, but a big hit from Hibbard forced the ball into a turn over. The scrum mess hasn’t been sorted out, so Afoa and Poirot were both shown the yellow card just five minutes into the second half. Hodges was rapidly losing patience with the men on the other side of the scrum as well, warning Wood and Gomez Kodela to sort things out. The scrums were sorted long enough for the ball to be ripped out of Laidlaw’s hands by Saili playing at 6, but he knocked it forward, and Gloucester attacked in the confusion, sending Moriarty down field. Purdy supported, but eventually the ball was bundled into touch.

Sharples was once again looking sharp, but a forward pass from him to his support ended yet another attacking move. Bordeaux attempted to run the mini-maul game plan, which worked well, giving a fabulous try for Talebula. The ball worked through the hands, with the offloads from the forwards working well and a long looping pass from putting Talebula over. The conversion from Bernard made the score 19-20.

Both teams seemed desperate for the Champions Cup pooling, set to be drawn on June 16^th and the chances were being spoilt. The frantic midfield action gives way to a blistering run from Sharples, who just failed to gather his own kick. Bordeaux infringe, however, and Laidlaw scored the penalty making it 22 – 20 with six minutes to go.

Bordeaux were having to try things to get out of their own half, kicking over the Gloucester lines, but the defence of Gloucester kept the ball in Cherry and White hands. Gloucester set up for one more attack on the Bordeaux lines, but the defence of the French side eventually turned the ball over.

The scrums have been a right mess, particularly in this second half. Neither team has been particularly dominant, but needless penalties have sealed the fate of the front rows. As Gloucester wear down the clock, and the Bordeaux defence, I wonder why they don’t set up for a drop goal, but the Gloucester faithful roared in their support. Bordeaux did very well to force the Gloucester players back, and eventually force the penalty. From the line out, the ball was won by Bordeaux, and a penalty looming, Bernard lined up a drop goal to seal Gloucester’s fate. The final score 22-23 to Bordeaux-Begals, who will take on the challenge of the European Champions Cup next season. Congratulations to them!