Union Bordeaux Bègles scored nine tries on their way to a 55-15 victory over Saracens on Sunday, securing their place in the playoffs.
The TOP 14 club’s star-studded backfield ran a mock with Louis Bielle-Biarrey (2), Romain Buros, Nicolas Depoortère, Matthieu Jalibert and Pablo Uberti piercing the Gallagher Premiership club’s defences – in addition to Penaud’s efforts.
Hooker Maxime Lamothe also crossed in the rout, with Jalibert and Maxime Lucu adding six and four points respectively from the tee.
Two tries in two minutes from Saracens inside centre Nick Tompkins and hooker Theo Dan on the hour mark brought an air of respectability to the scoreboard – fly-half Owen Farrell contributing five points from the tee.
It was the visitors who opened the scoring in the contest with three points from the boot of Farrell, but the hosts soon took command with a quickfire double from their all-star backfield.
Quick hands swiftly moved the ball to the TOP 14 club’s left where wing Bielle-Biarrey outflanked Saracens’ defence to dot down in the eighth minute. He was followed over the whitewash by Buros five minutes later – the full-back collecting a delightful offload from Jalibert to scamper over untouched.
A third try followed midway through the opening period as hooker Lamothe became the beneficiary of a superbly executed rolling maul to power over from close range.
The well-oiled Union Bordeaux-Bègles machine continued to press the accelerator and secured the bonus point try with a free-flowing attack in the 34th minute. Jalibert broke the initial line before offloading to Lucu, who relayed to Yoram Moefana before the inside centre offloaded to Penaud – the wing cantering over..
The onslaught continued in the second half with the hosts adding a fifth try just four minutes after the interval. A barnstorming run from no.8 Pete Samu opened up Saracens’ defence with outside centre Depoortère adding the finishing touch with the dot down.
Fly-half Jalibert was the next Union Bordeaux-Bègles back to enjoy a trip across the whitewash – Moefana and Penaud combined down the right to breach Saracens’ line, with the French international waltzing over for the hosts' sixth try.
A seventh followed in the 57th minute as Penaud intercepted an errant pass inside his own half to race home for his second of the evening.
However, the Gallagher Premiership club did show some fight on the hour mark with first Tompkins, and then Dan, scoring within two minutes of each other to close the gap to 43-15.
Replacement back Uberti and wing Bielle-Biarrey ran in further tries in the final five minutes as the hosts completed a resounding victory.
With qualification now secured, Union Bordeaux-Bègles will be eyeing a home tie in the Round of 16 when they travel to take on Vodacom Bulls next Saturday, while Saracens welcome Lyon to StoneX Stadium for their final Pool Stage contest the same day.
Scorers:
Union Bordeaux Bègles: Tries: Louis Bielle-Biarrey (2), Romain Buros, Maxime Lamothe, Damian Penaud (2), Nicolas Depoortere, Matthieu Jalibert, Pablo Uberti. Conversions: Matthieu Jalibert (3), Maxime Lucu (2).
Saracens: Tries: Nick Tompkins, Theo Dan. Conversion: Owen Farrell. Penalty: Owen Farrell.
Teams:
Union Bordeaux Bègles: 15 Romain Buros, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Maxime Lucu (captain), 8 Pete Samu, 7 Marko Gazzotti, 6 Pierre Bochaton, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 1 Jefferson Poirot. Replacements: 16 Romain Latterrade, 17 Ugo Boniface, 18 Carlü Sadie, 19 Kane Douglas, 20 Mahamadou Diaby, 21 Antoine Miquel, 22 Paul Abadie, 23 Pablo Uberti
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Alex Lewington, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Sean Maitland, 10 Owen Farrell (captain), 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Andy Christie, 6 Nick Isiekwe, 5 Hugh Tizard, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Christian Judge, 2 Theo Dan, 1 Logovi’i Mulipola. Replacements: 16 James Hadfield, 17 Sam Crean, 18 Alec Clarey, 19 Billy Vunipola, 20 Juan-Martin Gonzalez, 21 Gareth Simpson, 22 Olly Hartley, 23 Rotimi Segun.
