Bilbao (Spain) (AFP) – Bordeaux-Begles head coach Yannick Bru said on Saturday he wanted his side to show their "true faces" as they aim for French Top 14 glory after defending the Champions Cup.
Issued on: 23/05/2026 - 19:06Modified: 23/05/2026 - 20:03
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Bru's side hammered Leinster 41-19 in Bilbao for a second straight title but have yet to win the domestic crown, having been founded from a merger of two clubs in 2006.They sit in fifth place in the Top 14 after an inconsistent compaign with two rounds to go and are likely going to have to go through the play-offs to lift their maiden French crown."The Top 14 is a boxing bout every weekend," Bru told reporters."I hope we will have all our resources to show our true selves in the Top 14," the former France hooker added.In-form winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey scored two tries and captain Maxime Lucu provided 21 points in a dominant display at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain.Since edging Bath in their semi-final three weeks ago, Bordeaux-Begles have struggled in the league with narrow wins over lowly Bayonne and Perpignan."It is relief. It has been a hard few weeks," Tonga prop Ben Tameifuna, 34, told Premier Sports."This is one of the few times that I was nervous in my career."Back-to-back is special."Bordeaux-Begles were supported by thousands of travelling French fans who had made the four-hour drive down the Atlantic coast to the sold-out 52,000-capacity San Mames stadium, nicknamed 'The Cathedral'."What an arena and place to play," Tameifuna said."Thank you for everyone who made the trip."It is going to be a rough couple of days," he jokingly added.'Keep knocking'
