Match Centre: Investec Champions Cup: Bordeaux 45-12 Saracens

Bordeaux 45-12 Saracens, Stade Chaban-Delmas

Bordeaux Begles scored six tries as they trounced Saracens 45-12 in the round of 16 clash in the Investec Champions Cup at Stade Chaban-Delmas on Saturday.

This is the second time Bordeaux has defeated Saracens in the ongoing campaign as they now face Harlequins in the quarter-finals next weekend.

Saracens made a strong start as Billy Vunipola picked the ball from the base of the scrum but his kick was charged down. The home side then made a response with Maxime Lucu breaching the defence of Saracens but despite effort from Louis Bielle-Bierrey they failed to get over the line.

Bordeaux looked dangerous as Ben Tameifuna looked to touchdown but strong defence from Alex Lewington and Elliot Daly forced a knock on as the teams continued to remain scoreless.

Maxime Lucu eventually got the opening points as he landed a penalty goal in the 29th minute before Saracens were down to 14 players temporarily in the 35th minute when Maro Itoje was sin-binned for a deliberate knock on and the home side made use of the numerical advantage with Matéo Garcia diving in the corner following a break down. Lucu kicked the conversion as the French side managed a 10-0 lead in the opening half.

Alex Goode missed an early penalty goal in the second half before Tevita Tatafu’s offload allowed Garcia to dot down and Lucu's conversion made it 17-0 before Bordeaux dominated at the start of the final quarter with a double from Nicolas Depoortere and a touchdown from Bielle-Biarrey in a span of seven minutes making it 38-0.

The start of the final 10 minutes saw Saracens finally open their account as Alex Lewington went over after collecting a wide pass from Lucio Cinti but his effort was cancelled out with Bielle-Biarrey scoring his second for Bordeaux in the 75th minute making it 45-5.

The closing stage saw Tom Willis score a consolation try for Saracens but that could not stop them from being knocked out of the Champions Cup with Bordeaux progressing to the quarter-finals.

Team line up:

Bordeaux: Buros; Penaud, Depoortere, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey; Garcia, Lucu (capt); Poirot, Lamothe, Tameifuna, Cazeaux, Coleman, Miquel, Samu, Tatafu.

Reserves: Latterrade, Kaulashvili, Sadie, Douglas, Jolmes, Petti, Lesgourgues, Uberti.

Saracens: Daly; Maitland, Cinti, Tompkins, Lewington; Goode, Van Zyl; M Vunipola, George (capt), Judge, Itoje, Tizard, McFarland, Earl, B Vunipola.

Reserves: Dan, Mawi, Riccioni, Gonzalez, Willis, Simpson, M Vunipola, Hartley.