Radradra shows class against Lyon
Flamboyant Fijian centre Semi Radradra helped BordeauxBegles produced an impressive display to beat Lyon 35-13. Radradra tore the Lyon defence into shreds and ran in the score the second try. Lyon failed in their attempt to move above Toulouse and into third in the Top 14 table following a disappointing loss. Bordeaux, on the other hand, were excellent and went into the break 8-3 ahead through Baptiste Serin’s try and penalty.
UBB were not initially rewarded for their dominance but Serin added two more three-pointers in the second half before Radradra, Mahamadou Diaby and Yann Lesgourgues secured the win as they went above Lyon.
It was a poor display by Pierre Mignoni’s side who, despite opening brightly and going 3-0 in front through the kicking accuracy of Lionel Beauxis, were often sent into reverse.
Afa Amosa was the player that did most of the damage and it was his surge that set up the first try. The number eight barrelled through Beauxis’ weak attempted tackle, off-loaded to Alexandre Roumat and, although Pierre-Louis Barassi tapped the ball back, Serin was on hand to touch down. Bordeaux’s back-row continued to cause problems for the opposition, with Amosa a powerhouse in the loose. Under pressure, Lyon infringed and the hosts’ scrum-half gave his team a five-point buffer at the interval.
Serin then added another off the tee in the second period, although the visiting pivot immediately cancelled out that score with a three-pointer of his own. Mignoni’s charges were conceding penalties with regularity, however, and one such infringement saw Mickael Ivaldi yellow carded. Serin kicked the resultant opportunity before they effectively ended the game as a contest just shy of the hour mark. Conditions had worsened after the break but UBB still managed to play some excellent rugby and good hands gave Radradra a one-on-one opportunity, which the Fijian duly took.
Ivaldi returned to the field but it did not alter the momentum as Diaby and Lesgourgues rubberstamped the victory, despite Rudi Wulf ’s consolation score, which was sandwiched in between those tries.
Meanwhile, Josua Tuisova’s Toulon suffered a 13-9 loss to La Rochelle.