Reus's kicking lifts Bordeaux into Top 14 runners‑up
Hugo Reus kicked 20 points as Bordeaux‑Begles beat La Rochelle 25‑19 on Sunday, propelling the side to second place in the Top 14 after seven rounds. The win gave Bordeaux 23 points, five behind leaders Toulouse and one ahead of third‑placed Pau. Reus’s contribution came from six penalties and a try by Carlu Sadie.
Reus’s points and the opening try
Reus opened the scoring with a penalty before South African prop Carlu Sadie dived over from close range for Bordeaux’s first try. Reus converted the conversion and added two more penalties, extending the lead to 13‑0 after just thirty minutes. The visitors dominated the first half but their pressure yielded only that early penalty before the try.
La Rochelle finally threatened five minutes before the break when Springbok lock Salmaan Moerat, making his first start for the Atlantic side, released a long pass to Samoan international Theo McFarland, who crossed for the visitors’ first try. Reus’s boot pinged over a fourth penalty to make it 19‑7 at the interval. The half‑time score reflected Bordeaux’s control.
The second half began with centre Semi Lagivala driving through after a ball from Simeli Daunivucu, marking his first try of the season for La Rochelle. Reus responded with two further penalties, restoring a comfortable cushion. Replacement back Andy Timo added a late try for La Rochelle with two minutes remaining.
Eighteen‑year‑old scrum‑half Valentin Bouju, thrust into goal‑kicking duties after Antoine Hastoy left with an ankle injury, saw his conversion drift wide, denying La Rochelle a defensive bonus point. The final whistle confirmed a 25‑19 win for Bordeaux, cementing their climb up the table.
Table implications and broader coverage
Ronan O’Gara’s side remain fourth after the defeat, while champions Toulouse reinforced their lead with a 38‑33 victory over Perpignan on Saturday. Pau, who had been second, slipped to third after a 41‑20 loss at Toulon, where Melvyn Jaminet scored 26 points, including his first career hat‑trick.
The report appears on the 42FM Sport platform, which blends Rugby Weekly Extra with Golf and Horse racing content, and offers Video Review and Podcasts for fans. It sits alongside Football Family stories and extra analysis, inviting readers to See more Stories and share via Email. The accompanying image is an Alamy Stock Photo credited to Icon Sport, featuring HUGO REUS in action.