Bordeaux clinch eight-try thriller
The French side stunned the Ospreys with three first half tries and secured the bonus point after the break. But a stunning late fightback from the Welsh region saw them claim a losing bonus point and a try bonus point after almost snatching victory.
The first score in this eight-try thriller came after just 71 seconds when centre Julien Rey cut a lovely angle through the Ospreys' defence. Flank Justin Tipuric responded for the visitors two minutes later with a well-worked try after excellent hands from fullback Dan Evans.
Pierre Bernard put Bordeaux back in front with a penalty before the home side went down to 14 men when hooker Clement Maynadier was sent to the sin bin as they came under pressure. But it was Bordeaux who scored next when they counter-rucked the Ospreys in the visitor's half and moved it wide for lock Berend Botha.
Their third try was gifted to them by a risky pass from Ospreys centre Sam Davies close to the Bordeaux try-line, which Sofiane Guitoune scooped-up and ran 70 metres to go under the posts.
The Ospreys fightback started seven minutes after the interval with a try in the corner for wing Eli Walker before a moment of controversy. Dan Biggar kicked the conversion from the touchline but referee Luke Pearce went to the TMO to check the try. It was then awarded but Biggar missed with his second conversion attempt.
Replacement outside-half Baptiste Serin became the second Bordeaux player to see yellow but the Ospreys wasted several chances to get back into the game. History then repeated itself as Bordeaux worked the ball out from their own five metre line and went the length of the field for Yann Lesgourgues to secure the bonus point with a fourth try.
It looked to be enough to seal the win until Ospreys captain Alun Wyn Jones scored their third try on his 50th European appearance 12 minutes from time, to set up a grandstand finish.
Biggar then grabbed the Ospreys a four-try bonus point and a losing bonus point when he intercepted Serin's pass to race 60m to score.
Scorers:
For Bordeaux Begles:
Tries: Rey, Botha, Guitoune, Lesgourges
Cons: Bernard 2
Pens: Bernard 2, Serin
For Ospreys:
Tries: Tipuric, Walker, AW Jones, Biggar
Cons: Biggar 2
Pen: Biggar
Yellow cards: Clement Maynadier (Bordeaux Begles – 10), Baptiste Serin (Bordeaux Begles – 61)
Teams:
Bordeaux Begles: 15 Jean-Marcellin Buttin, 14 Metuisela Talebulamaijaina, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Julien Rey, 11 Sofiane Guitoune, 10 Pierre Bernard, 9 Heini Adams, 8 Marco Tauleigne, 7 Matthew Clarkin, 6 Louis Madaule, 5 Berend Botha, 4 Julien Le Devedec, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Clement Maynadier, 1 Jefferson Poirot.
Replacements: 16 Ole Avei, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 19 Jan Andre Marais, 20 Loann Goujon, 21 Yann Lesgourgues, 22 Baptiste Serin, 23 Darly Domvo.
Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Jeff Hassler, 13 Ben John, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Eli Walker, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Tom Habberfield, 8 James King, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (captain), 4 Lloyd Ashley, 3 Dmitri Arhip, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Rory Thornton, 20 Dan Baker, 21 Martin Roberts, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Hanno Dirksen.
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England), Peter Allan (England)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)
