The China Mail - Jalibert guides Bordeaux-Begles to maiden Champions Cup

Jalibert, 26, was pivotal in three of the French club's four tries before lock Cyril Cazeaux's crucial second-half score sealed a historic success.

Northampton's hopes of a second Champions Cup crown were severely damaged as they suffered three key injuries in the opening half an hour including to full-back George Furbank.

Pre-match, their director of rugby Phil Dowson was forced to move flanker Henry Pollock to No 8 to cover the injured Juarno Augustus as they eyed making up for defeat in the final to Leinster in 2011 at the same stadium.

Dowson also started four players, including lock Temo Mayanavanua, who were fitness doubts coming into the decider.

Bordeaux-Begles head coach Yannick Bru was able to start superstar winger Damian Penaud after the tournament's top try scorer this term recovered from an ankle injury suffered in the semi-final win over Toulouse.

The English club fired out of the blocks with a similar tempo to their surprise last four win over four-time winners Leinster and led 7-0 after just three minutes.

Flanker Alex Coles crashed over and fly-half Fin Smith, one of four British and Irish Lions squad members on show, slotted the simple conversion with the majority of the crowd being Saints fans in full voice.

The rip-roaring start slowed down briefly as Saints' Furbank was carried off the field on a stretcher after an in-air collision with Penaud on two minutes after winger James Ramm had left the field with a leg issue.

When play resumed the French outfit cut the deficit to two points as Penaud strolled over but Smith's opposite number Jalibert failed with the conversion.

- Quiet Pollock -

After a rip-roaring first half the teams were level 20-20 as lock Adam Coleman scored and Penaud his second before Coles claimed a double of his own with the clock in the red.

Jalibert's influence was highlighted in the build-up to Coleman's try with a perfectly-timed turnover and his assist for Penaud's later touchdown.

Both sides spent spells of the opening 40 down a man as Bordeaux-Begles lost Mahamadou Diaby to the sin bin for a high tackle Saints lock Temo Mayanavanua, who followed Furbank and Ramm of the field.

Ollie Sleightholme was yellow carded for Northampton, who were denied the chance to retake the lead two minutes after the break as a previously quiet Pollock had his effort chalked off for obstruction.

Just five minutes into the second-half Saints were shown another yellow card as Mayanavanua's replacement Ed Prowse was binned for a high tackle on centre Yoram Moefana.

Jalibert kicked Bordeaux-Begles into 23-20 lead from the following penalty with Bru's outfit pressuring the Saints' line.

The extra man finally paid off just before the hour mark as Coleman's second-row partner Cazeaux powered through to make it 28-20 and secure the title.

J.Thompson--ThChM