Santi reacts quickest to sink unlucky Saints
DIFFERENT competition but the same outcome as Northampton missed a golden opportunity to end their miserable run.
After ten consecutive Premiership defeats, Saints hoped that their first outing in Europe would see a reversal in their fortunes and that should have been the case but their own ineptitude and ill-luck resulted in them falling to a 16th loss in their last 18 fixtures.
Northampton’s captain, Tom Wood, said: “We were in total control for most of that game but we let them off the hook and I can’t believe that we have lost.
“A couple of crucial decisions went against us but the emotion is very raw as we have worked hard for no reward.
“We are not a million miles away but we need to get on the right side of a few results.”
This should have been one of them for the Saints’ pack with huge contributions from David Ribbans and Courtney Lawes ensuring that the hosts bossed possession and territory.
With fly-half Dan Biggar orchestrating matters in the opening half-hour, Northampton went close with Taqele Naiyaravoro twice hauled down metres short but soon Saints became devoid of attacking ideas.
Bordeaux were no better and were disappointing for a side that finished first in last season’s Top 14.
Their forwards fiercely contested but they lacked a ball-carrier with international backs, Matthieu Jalibert and Yoram Moefana, giving no hint as to
their obvious talent.
It was therefore left to former Exeter favourite, Santiago Cordero, to provide an attacking spark. The Argentinian wing went close in the first half before his alertness sealed Saints’ fate by scoring the only try.
Saints had the better of the opening quarter with Biggar kicking two penalties as his side were
awarded five penalties in the first 20 minutes to none for the French.
Eventually Bordeaux secured one but Ben Botica was comfortably off-target with his 50m attempt although minutes later he succeeded with a much easier chance.
When Saints hooker Sam Matavesi was tackled high by Guido Petti, Biggar kicked his third goal but
Botica brought the sides level at 9-9 at the interval with two penalties in quick succession.
After the restart, Saints were back in front through a fourth penalty from Biggar after Bordeaux’s replacement Jandre Marais had been penalised for a high shot.
The French then incurred another two penalties in quick succession but this time Saints opted for an attacking lineout at which Cameron Woki was yellow carded for dragging down the maul.
Woki returned but soon Bordeaux again went down to 14 after their scrum-half Maxime Lucu was sinbinned for stamping.
Northampton could not capitalise and it proved costly as Bordeaux provided the coup de grace when a mistake by George Furbank presented the Frenchmen with their opportunity.
From deep inside his own half and under no pressure, Furbank booted the ball dead before the home side compounded his error by conceding a scrum penalty to give Jalibert the chance to bring the scores level.
Jalibert’s kick rebounded back off a post but Cordero was first to react to pick up and score to send Saints tumbling to another defeat.
we had enough chances to score three or four tonight.
“However you can’t do a lot when a ball rebounds back off a post and bounces sideways, that is just hard luck and things are not going our way at present.”
Next up in Europe for Saints is a daunting trip to Leinster, who are unbeaten this season.
Boyd said: “With the new format of this competition, you have to win at least three of your four games to qualify so it is now extremely difficult for us to do that.
“We are not refocusing on the Premiership just yet but we’ll be resting some players next weekend and giving some youngsters a go.”