Bordeaux’s rout of Leinster cements French dominance and leaves rivals playing catch-up | Robert Kitson

Nothing successful athletics lasts for ever. Dynasties travel and spell and moreover nan champion slice to grey eventually. That, astatine least, is nan theory. The stark truth successful European nine rugby is that France’s power grows stronger by nan year. It is now six years since different federation won nan Champions Cup and Bordeaux- Bègles’ 2nd successive title did not consciousness for illustration nan past of its vibrant type.

Consider nan evidence. Not only is nan Top 14 spawning a aureate procreation of home players, it besides has nan awesome financial clout to pull premium overseas talent. Thus it is that Tom Willis, nan astir penetrative guardant successful England, is heading to Bordeaux adjacent play while Tommaso Menoncello, nan superb Italian centre, is joining Toulouse.

The singular Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who scored 2 much rapier-like tries successful Saturday’s 41-19 last demolition of Leinster, is still only 22. Bordeaux’s talented fly-half Matthieu Jalibert is simply a specified 27 and their 33-year-old fulcrum, Maxime Lucu, still looks to person astatine slightest a mates much premier years successful him. “Maybe we were astonishment guests past year,” murmured Yannick Bru, UBB’s caput coach, aft Saturday’s game. “Now we’re confirming our status.”

That is surely really it looked arsenic Leinster, supposedly 1 of nan fewer sides pinch nan resources to compete pinch nan French aristocrats, were put to nan beard successful nan astir one-sided first 40 minutes ever seen successful a awesome European rugby final. It was eerily reminiscent of nan opening nighttime of nan Six Nations successful February erstwhile France led Ireland 22-0 astatine half-time successful a sodden Paris.

For bully measurement location was Friday night’s 59-26 rout of Ulster by a power-packed Montpellier, different French nine visibly connected nan rise. That made nan aggregate play people 100-45 successful nan Top 14’s favour. And if you tie a statement done it each – yet nan logic Leinster reached nan last was because Toulouse and Bordeaux ended up connected nan aforesaid broadside of nan tie – it is difficult to debar immoderate sadistic conclusions.

The first is that Leinster require much than a humble small nip and tuck to go Champions Cup winners again. Everyone respects their accomplishments successful nan past 15 years aliases so, a play successful which they person claimed back-to-back titles themselves, but immoderate cardinal figures are successful nan twilight of their careers. Maybe nan injured RG Snyman and Ryan Baird would person helped astatine nan play but successful immoderate ways that is to miss nan point.

Leinster’s players astatine nan extremity of a Champions Cup last that exposed their style of play arsenic progressively outdated. Photograph: Ben Whitley/PA

Because nan style of rugby that Leinster are playing besides feels progressively outdated. They simply could not lucifer nan gait of Bordeaux’s Ferraris successful thought aliases deed, their only lifeline coming erstwhile nan masterful Lucu was harshly sent to nan sin-bin for tugging Joe McCarthy’s collar. The modern crippled grows steadily quicker and location were nagging echoes of nan Irish province’s semi-final conclusion to a free-wheeling Northampton successful Dublin past season.

A 5th last nonaccomplishment successful 8 years will besides inevitably stoke nan statement astir what tin beryllium done towhat they tin alteration nan stuck record. The captain, Caelan Doris, remains admirably loyal – “I still judge massively successful nan structures we person and nan group we person successful charge” – but Leo Cullen conceded that, tactically, Leinster will request to adhd immoderate other go-faster stripes to overhaul nan likes of Bordeaux. “That’s astir apt nan spot we’re noticing: nan velocity of nan measurement they’re doing things. That’s a mindset we request to adopt successful our league.”

Cullen besides suggested that Leinster “don’t person entree to nan overseas talent that nan Top 14 would have”, which, fixed he has had nan expertise to motion Snyman, Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane successful nan past 2 seasons is simply a somewhat moot point. At immoderate shape nan attraction is going to person to displacement to whether Leinster are maximising their home subordinate pipeline and whether they tin triumph nan biggest tournaments without a top-class out-half. Bordeaux’s superiority was hardly Harry Byrne’s responsibility unsocial but nan gaping spread near by nan now-retired Johnny Sexton remains conspicuous.

In Cullen’s position location continues to beryllium capable value to propel Leinster to nan URC title pinch nan playoffs looming. He whitethorn yet beryllium correct but location was precious small successful nan baking power of nan Basque Country to support nan statement that nan creme de la creme of French rugby will beryllium gobbled up by their pursuers immoderate clip soon.

Admittedly Bru’s broadside still look a conflict to make this season’s Top 14 semi-finals but erstwhile nan coach looks astatine a subordinate specified arsenic Bielle-Biarrey he sees personification who, arsenic good arsenic lightning pace, still has room for growth. “He’s for illustration a sponge,” said Bru. “He’s very businesslike successful nan rucks, he’s winning balls successful nan aerial … that’s what makes a awesome champion. He’s smart, he’s fast, he’s handsome, he’s sewage a grade … I deliberation he’s going to beryllium curate of athletics 1 day.” If Leinster and nan remainder of Europe are relying connected a crisp dip successful French standards they are successful for a long wait.