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Lyon end Heineken Cup slide with emphatic win over Bulls
By PA
Lyon brought an emphatic end to their Heineken Champions Cup drought by crushing the Bulls 31-7 at Matmut Stadium de Gerland.
The French club, sat in mid-table in their domestic Top 14 competition, claimed their only win of the pool stage in style, finishing with a bonus-point victory that lifts them into the top eight.
They led 24-0 at half-time with hooker Guillaume Marchand crossing twice amid a dominant display from their pack before Leo Berdeu scored the fourth try in the 58th minute.
The Bulls paid the price for a high penalty count and they never got going in frosty conditions, but their two wins earlier in the group phase means they still have a better chance of qualifying for the last 16.
The newcomers from South Africa remain in sixth place with Lyon in seventh.
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It certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
Go to commentsHis best years were 2018 and he wasn't good enough to win the World Cup in 2023! (Although he was voted as the best player in the world in 2023)
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