Henry Pollock revels in pantomime villain role but Northampton still thrashed by Bordeaux

At half-time, Saints trailed by 17 points and against Jalibert, Penaud, Louis Bielle-Biarrey and company the scoreline could easily have turned pear-shaped. To their credit, the visitors did not fold, even if a couple of the hosts’ tries were soft. Tommy Freeman crossed from close range, as did Pollock, before Fischetti – who had to return late on for Emmanuel Iyogun after his early hooking – bagged the consolation bonus.

Northampton, despite their Prem hegemony, were beaten and humbled in the bear-pit; Pollock, however, cannot stop catching the eye.

Match details

Scoring sequence 5-0 Rayasi try, 5-5 Pollock try, 5-7 Belleau con, 10-7 Rayasi try, 12-7 Page-Relo con, 17-7 Page-Relo try, 19-7 Page-Relo con, 24-7 Woki try, 29-7 Rayasi try, 31-7 Page-Relo con, 36-7 Woki try, 38-7 Page-Relo con, 38-12 Freeman try, 38-14 Belleau con, 43-14 Woki try, 45-14 Page-Relo con, 50-14 Jalibert try, 50-19 Pollock try, 50-21 Belleau con, 50-26 Fischetti try, 50-28 Belleau con.

Bordeaux Bègles S Rayasi; D Penaud, N Depoortere, Y Moefana (Janse van Rensburg 58), L Bielle-Biarrey; M Jalibert (Carbery 61), M Page-Relo (Retière 50; J Poirot (Perchaud 50), M Lamothe (c, Barlot 50), C Sadie (Tameifuna 50), A Coleman, C Cazeaux (Palu 61), J-L du Preez (Vergnes-Taillefer 50), C Woki, T Matiu. Sin-bin Retière.

Northampton Saints G Hendy; E Todaro, T Freeman (Thame 77), R Hutchinson, O Sleightholme (Iyogun 16), A Belleau, A Mitchell (McParland 52); D Fischetti (Sleightholme 26, Fischetti 70), C Wright (Smith 40), T Davison (Millar-Mills 46), A Coles (Munga 70), JJ van der Mescht (Prowse 40), C Chick (c, Graham 57), T Pearson, H Pollock. Sin-bin Fischetti, Hutchinson.

Referee Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy). Attendance 34,000.