Bristol Bears vs. Pau Leads Champions Cup Pool 4 Round 2 Play | ICC Preview
Bristol Bears vs. Pau Leads Champions Cup Pool 4 Round 2 Play | ICC Preview
Round 2 in Pool 4 features Northampton vs. the Bulls, Bordeaux vs. Scarlets and Bristol vs. Pau, as the group tightens after dramatic results in Week 1.
The best match of Round 1 of the Investec Champions Cup was indeed one of the most anticipated of the round when Pau hosted the Northampton Saints.
The No. 2 team in Top 14 play and the No. 2 team in the Gallagher PREM Rugby season going head-to-head even overshadowed that these were two clubs with some of the best young stars in the game on their side.
It lived up to the billing — something Munster couldn’t help make happen at Bath in Round 1. Northampton broke a 27-27 tie in the 76th minute with a George Hendy try and went on to win 35-27.
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The favorites to win the pool both took their matches in different ways.
Northampton won a battle with Pau in France, while defending ICC champion Union Bordeaux-Bègles went to South Africa and overcame a 33-22 deficit to shut out the Vodacom Bulls in the second half of a 46-33 win.
In Wales, the Scarlets — who have one win this club season — nearly pulled off the upset and beat the Bristol Bears at Parc y Scarlets. They lost 17-16.
Here’s a look at the Round 2 matches:
Union Bordeaux-Bègles vs. The Scarlets, 12:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 13
UBB comes home having captured a massive win in South Africa and scoring a bonus point in doing so. It was one of the more impressive wins of Round 1. UBB looks to possibly clinch — perhaps unofficially — a spot in the Round of 16 with another bonus-point win against the Scarlets.
But it’s not all lost for the Scarlets, who are fighting to at the very least get into the EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16.
Scoring a try bonus point may be doable given Bordeaux’s oftentimes lackluster defense. UBB has allowed 26 or more points seven times since the start of Top 14 play. Scoring four tries against UBB is doable and would give the Scarlets two points in the table, which could be enough to keep pace in the Challenge Cup race or even the No. 4 spot in this pool.
Northampton Saints vs. The Vodacom Bulls, 10:15 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 14
Will the Bulls bring their best team with them to Northampton? They answered that question with nine Springboks named to the team to play Northampton.
While Handré Pollard won’t play in this match for the Bulls — along with several others due to mandatory rest periods — the Bulls will have Willie le Roux, David Kriel and Marcell Coetzee.
They’ll need all the Boks they can get against the No. 2 team from the Gallagher PREM and last year’s Champions Cup runner-up.
South African clubs have said they are making the Champions Cup a priority, but because of the late-November end to the Springboks’ international schedule, we haven’t seen some of the biggest stars on South African clubs just yet. Players do need breaks, but the expectation is many internationals will be back this round.
Looming over the Bulls’ match is their biggest club match of the season: the North-South Derby against their rivals, the DHL Stormers, on Dec. 27.
Northampton comes in flying high after a win against Pau — the No. 2 team from Top 14 that looked like a dark horse to win the Champions Cup this year.
The late score to take the lead shows why the Saints are a threat to win in Spain next May. Like Bordeaux, they’ll be hunting for another bonus-point win against a Bulls side that may have nine Boks, but won’t have Pollard or Kurt-Lee Arendse, who suffered a concussion last month in international play.
Bristol Bears vs. Section Paloise, 12:30 p.m. ET, Sunday, Dec. 14
The most important match of the pool is perhaps the last match of the Round 2 slate.
The Bears were lucky to escape with a win over the Scarlets, and while they were one of only two winning teams not to get the bonus point, the four points give them an upper hand to reach the Round of 16.
Pau, meanwhile, was one try short of picking up a point and — because the Saints added a penalty kick in the final minutes — came away with no points. That’s concerning, since it was one of their two home matches.
Pau has the two (at least on paper) easier road matches in the pool with the Bears and Scarlets and doesn’t have to go to South Africa in Round 4. The best teams in the Champions Cup are hoping Pau can either surge into the top 3 of this pool or miss the Champions Cup Round of 16 altogether, because Toulouse, Leinster, Bath and Northampton do not want to see one of the best French sides in the Round of 16.
For the Bears — who are viewed as favorites in this match as the home side — a win would almost assure them a top-4 finish in the pool and an appearance in the Round of 16, regardless of what happens in South Africa and at home against UBB in January.
2025 ICC Table Standings Round 2
Pool 1
1. Toulouse (Stade Toulousain)
Games: 1 | Wins: 1 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 0
Point diff.: 37 | Pts: 8 | Try bonus: 1 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 5
2. Saracens (Saracens)
Games: 1 | Wins: 1 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 0
Point diff.: 37 | Pts: 7 | Try bonus: 1 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 5
3. Glasgow Warriors (Glasgow Warriors)
Games: 1 | Wins: 1 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 0
Point diff.: 5 | Pts: 4 | Try bonus: 1 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 5
4. Sale Sharks (Sale Sharks)
Games: 1 | Wins: 0 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 1
Point diff.: –5 | Pts: 3 | Try bonus: 0 | Def. bonus: 1 | Rank: 1
5. Hollywoodbets Sharks (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
Games: 1 | Wins: 0 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 1
Point diff.: –37 | Pts: 3 | Try bonus: 0 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 0
6. Clermont Auvergne (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
Games: 1 | Wins: 0 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 1
Point diff.: –37 | Pts: 2 | Try bonus: 0 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 0
Pool 2
1. Bath Rugby (Bath Rugby)
Games: 1 | Wins: 1 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 0
Point diff.: 26 | Pts: 6 | Try bonus: 1 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 5
2. Gloucester Rugby (Gloucester Rugby)
Games: 1 | Wins: 1 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 0
Point diff.: 20 | Pts: 4 | Try bonus: 1 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 5
3. Edinburgh Rugby (Edinburgh Rugby)
Games: 1 | Wins: 1 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 0
Point diff.: 13 | Pts: 4 | Try bonus: 1 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 5
4. Toulon (RC Toulon)
Games: 1 | Wins: 0 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 1
Point diff.: –13 | Pts: 2 | Try bonus: 0 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 0
5. Castres Olympique (Castres Olympique)
Games: 1 | Wins: 0 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 1
Point diff.: –20 | Pts: 2 | Try bonus: 0 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 0
6. Munster Rugby (Munster Rugby)
Games: 1 | Wins: 0 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 1
Point diff.: –26 | Pts: 2 | Try bonus: 0 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 0
Pool 3
1. La Rochelle (Stade Rochelais)
Games: 1 | Wins: 1 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 0
Point diff.: 19 | Pts: 6 | Try bonus: 1 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 5
2. Leinster Rugby (Leinster Rugby)
Games: 1 | Wins: 1 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 0
Point diff.: 17 | Pts: 7 | Try bonus: 1 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 5
3. DHL Stormers (DHL Stormers)
Games: 1 | Wins: 1 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 0
Point diff.: 9 | Pts: 2 | Try bonus: 0 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 4
4. Harlequins (Harlequins)
Games: 1 | Wins: 0 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 1
Point diff.: –17 | Pts: 4 | Try bonus: 1 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 1
5. Bayonne (Aviron Bayonnais)
Games: 1 | Wins: 0 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 1
Point diff.: –9 | Pts: 3 | Try bonus: 0 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 0
6. Leicester Tigers (Leicester Tigers)
Games: 1 | Wins: 0 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 1
Point diff.: –19 | Pts: 2 | Try bonus: 0 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 0
Pool 4
1. Bordeaux-Begles (Union Bordeaux Bègles)
Games: 1 | Wins: 1 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 0
Point diff.: 13 | Pts: 7 | Try bonus: 1 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 5
2. Northampton Saints (Northampton Saints)
Games: 1 | Wins: 1 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 0
Point diff.: 8 | Pts: 5 | Try bonus: 1 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 5
3. Bristol Bears (Bristol Bears)
Games: 1 | Wins: 1 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 0
Point diff.: 1 | Pts: 3 | Try bonus: 0 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 4
4. Scarlets (Scarlets)
Games: 1 | Wins: 0 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 1
Point diff.: –1 | Pts: 1 | Try bonus: 0 | Def. bonus: 1 | Rank: 1
5. Vodacom Bulls (Vodacom Bulls)
Games: 1 | Wins: 0 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 1
Point diff.: –13 | Pts: 5 | Try bonus: 1 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 1
6. Pau (Section Paloise)
Games: 1 | Wins: 0 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 1
Point diff.: –8 | Pts: 3 | Try bonus: 0 | Def. bonus: 0 | Rank: 0
Investec Champions Cup Round 1 Scores
Friday Scores:
- DHL Stormers 23, Bayonne 17 | FINAL
- Sale Sharks 21, Glasgow Warriors 26 | FINAL
Saturday Scores
- Saracens 47, Clermont 10 | FINAL
- Bordeaux 46, Vodacom Bulls 33 | FINAL
- La Rochelle 39, Leicester Tigers 20 | FINAL
- Leinster Rugby 45, Harlequins 28 | FINAL
- Bristol Bears 17, Scarlets 16 | FINAL
- Bath Rugby 40, Munster Rugby 14 | FINAL
Sunday Scores:
- Northampton Saints 35, Pau 27 | FINAL
- Toulouse 56, Hollywoodbets Sharks 19 | FINAL
- Gloucester Rugby 34, Castres 14 | FINAL
- Edinburgh Rugby 33, Toulon | Final
Investec Champions Cup Round 2
Friday, Dec. 12
- 3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Leinster Rugby, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
Saturday, Dec. 13
- 8 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. La Rochelle, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
- 10:15 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Saracens, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
- 10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Marcel-Michelin
- 12:30 p.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Scarlets, Stade Chaban-Delmas
- 12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh
- 3 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Toulouse, Scotstoun Stadium
Sunday, Dec. 14
- 8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. Bayonne, Twickenham Stoop
- 8 a.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Edinburgh Rugby, Stade Pierre-Fabre
- 10:15 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol
- 10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Vodacom Bulls, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens
- 12:30 p.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Pau, Ashton Gate
Investec Champions Cup Round 3
Friday, Jan. 9
- 3 p.m. ET: Castres Olympique vs. Bath Rugby, Stade Pierre-Fabre
- 3 p.m. ET: Edinburgh Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, TBD
Saturday, Jan. 10
- 8 a.m. ET: Vodacom Bulls vs. Bristol Bears, Loftus Versfeld
- 10:15 a.m. ET: Clermont Auvergne vs. Glasgow Warriors, Stade Marcel-Michelin
- 12:30 p.m. ET: Leinster Rugby vs. La Rochelle, TBD
- 12:30 p.m. ET: Sale Sharks vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Salford Community Stadium
- 3 p.m. ET: Scarlets vs. Pau, Parc y Scarlets
- 3 p.m. ET: Leicester Tigers vs. Bayonne, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
Sunday, Jan. 11
- 8 a.m. ET: Harlequins vs. DHL Stormers, Twickenham Stoop
- 8 a.m. ET: Toulon vs. Munster Rugby, Stade Félix Mayol
- 10:15 a.m. ET: Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Northampton Saints, Stade Chaban-Delmas
- 12:30 p.m. ET: Saracens vs. Toulouse, StoneX Stadium
Investec Champions Cup Round 4
Friday, Jan. 16
- 3 p.m. ET: Pau vs. Vodacom Bulls, Stade du Hameau
- 3 p.m. ET: Bath Rugby vs. Edinburgh Rugby, The Rec
Saturday, Jan. 17
- 8 a.m. ET: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Clermont Auvergne, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
- 10:15 a.m. ET: Bayonne vs. Leinster Rugby, Stade Jean Dauger
- 10:15 a.m. ET: DHL Stormers vs. Leicester Tigers, DHL Stadium
- 12:30 p.m. ET: Toulouse vs. Sale Sharks, Stade Ernest Wallon
- 12:30 p.m. ET: Munster Rugby vs. Castres Olympique, Thomond Park
- 3 p.m. ET: Gloucester Rugby vs. Toulon, Kingsholm
Sunday, Jan. 18
- 8 a.m. ET: Bristol Bears vs. Bordeaux-Bègles, Ashton Gate
- 10:15 a.m. ET: Northampton Saints vs. Scarlets, cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens
- 10:15 a.m. ET: La Rochelle vs. Harlequins, Stade Marcel Deflandre
- 12:30 p.m. ET: Glasgow Warriors vs. Saracens, Scotstoun Stadium
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