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Damian Penaud scores double-hattrick as Bordeaux deep fry Sharks
By Ian Cameron
Union Bordeaux-Bègles delivered a dominant performance to crush the Sharks 66-12 at Chaban-Delmas to secure top spot in their Champions Cup group with a perfect record.
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French superstar Damian Penaud stole the show with an extraordinary six-try haul. At times it felt like the French winger near single-handedly dismantled the South African visitors’ defence.
It had all started so well for the Sharks, who scored twice in the opening six minutes.
Jurenzo Julius crossed the line in the third minute following slick interplay down the touchline before Hakeem Kunene added a second moments later, exploiting gaps in the Bordeaux defence to finish in the corner.
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Bordeaux responded in kind, with Penaud beginning his scoring spree in the 12th minute. After working the Sharks’ defensive line, the hosts spread the ball wide for Penaud to touch down. He struck again five minutes later, pouncing on an intercepted pass to sprint clear and equalize.
By the half-hour mark Penaud had completed his hattrick, powering over from a scrum to cap a relentless first-half display.
Bordeaux led 17-12 at the break, and from there, the floodgates opened.
In the 43rd minute, Maxime Lucu added a sublime bonus-point try, linking up with Penaud, whose vision and precision created a scoring opportunity for the scrum-half.
Ugo Boniface then muscled over from close range shortly after, before Yoram Moefana extended the advantage in the 54th minute.
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Penaud wasn’t done though. In the 66th minute he executed a perfect chip-and-chase to beat Hendrikse and score.
Et de 4 !
On en garde un peu pour le Tournoi des Six Nations @PenaudD ? pic.twitter.com/YQ1m5udLZz
— Investec Champions Cup France (@ChampionsCup_FR) January 19, 2025
Five minutes later, Jalibert’s pinpoint cross-field kick found the 28-year-old Penaud for his fifth try.
Il ne s’arrêtera pas ! Cinquième essai de @PenaudD !@UBBRugby pic.twitter.com/9ddznU9oxj
— Investec Champions Cup France (@ChampionsCup_FR) January 19, 2025
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He added a sixth a few moments later, capitalizing on a turnover to go solo under the posts.
À partir de maintenant on donne plus que le chiffre : 6 !@PenaudD pic.twitter.com/CoE4Ty6hl8
— Investec Champions Cup France (@ChampionsCup_FR) January 19, 2025
Penaud’s brilliance wasn’t limited to his own scoring. Late in the game, he unselfishly set up Jacques Nguimbous for the young debutant’s first professional try, demonstrating his playmaking ability as Bordeaux closed out a comprehensive victory.
With ten tries in total, Bordeaux sealed a resounding 66-12 win, cementing their status as arguably the team to beat in this season’s Champions Cup.
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France’s backline is going to be scary this season. Hope their forwards come to the party. If they do, 6N will be a whitewash.
My Huguenot roots are tingling. As well as my sports betting account.
Viva le Bleus
Unfortunately CC reality is not 6N reality. Obviously Toulouse and UBB backlines are scary as you write. Nevertheless not sure that the mix will operate as well at the national level as they are not playing so often together. This is the big advantage of the Ireland/Leinster connection. But this is going to be an exciting 6N and cheers for your wonderful red and white wines thanks to your Huguenot ancestors.
SA teams need to leave Champions and challenge cup behind. What is clear is that they dont have the depth or mentality to compete and freeing up 4 to 6 weeks in their calendar for players to rest is something they should prioritise. They will therefore only have 2 to 3 trips to Europe in the URC and avoid making a further 2 to 3 trips which is a huge cost and time saving. Players will at least have most of December and January, Feb and March to just recuperate and get ready for their URC challenges. The URC teams who have to play in Europe may call it an unfair advantage that SA teams dont have the extra games but the SA teams can counter that they also play Currie Cup, they have more extensive travel and they play year round so its not fair on them.
You are looking from a South African perspective, from a SA'n?
While I can't argue your points and generally agree (rugby in europe is already lopside enough for the downsides yuo raise to not really matter), SAn sides results are nothing out of the norm to indicate a need for change. Nearly all games are drastically lopsided in this comp over the last few years. A top 4 English side just lost by 80 points.
If the SA teams are unable to perform in the Champions Cup for many understable reasons (Boks season, lack of depth, players health, …) they should look at the reality in front, leave the CC and concentrate on the URC.
As an SA fan, the results are disappointing. But I do think the dust needs to settle and the setup and structure of the global season needs to figure itself out before we throw the baby out with the bath water JPM.
Was that the tone of the article or something? These results are nothing unusual, were some french sides recently on the receiving end?
I think you'll find your opinion is best directed at that idea of just making the Champions Cup more elite.
Toulouse just scored 80 against Toulouse. Sharks matched Bordeaux for a lot of the first half and should have gone in at 12:12. Fatigue set in and when that happens Bordeaux and Toulouse can score a lot of points quickly. I think the scheduling could and should be modified to remove some of the disadvantage for SA teams.
SA teams have the ambition to win this tournament they just need the space in the tournament structure to grow into.