Bordeaux star accuses Northampton Saints of lacking ‘respect’ as French side mock Henry Pollock in Champions Cup celebrations

Louis Chapman Coombe
Matthieu Jalibert celebrating in the stadium and with his teammates later on

Bordeaux Begles fly-half Matthieu Jalibert after the match v Northampton Saints

Bordeaux-Begles fly-half Matthieu Jalibert has claimed Northampton Saints lacked “respect” in the build-up to the Champions Cup final.

His comments come following an altercation between Bordeaux players and Saints star Henry Pollock at full-time, which Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson described as ‘foul play’.

“They must have respect too”

Jalibert seemed a man on a mission in his side’s 28-20 victory over the Saints at the Principality Stadium, grabbing two assists and kicking five of his side’s points on the road to their first major trophy.

And speaking after the match, the French international revealed one of the key motivations for his performance, stating that he and his side weren’t happy with some of the alleged comments in the build-up to the game.

“I told him (Pollock) that he didn’t know our club,” Jalibert told BBC Sport. “They said some things in the press which we didn’t really appreciate.

“They said that we were a club of mercenaries who are here for the money. I just told him that he doesn’t know our history, where we came from and that he must respect all clubs.”

He added: “I know it is their way of preparing for matches, but they must have respect too.”

The post-match fracas left a sour taste after what was a pulsating Champions Cup final, but Jalibert’s opposite number, Fin Smith, detailed the Bordeaux players “charged” at Pollock at the full-time whistle.

“They were after him, I don’t think they like him,” said the England number 10. “He’ll be alright, but they all charged him and tried to get hold of him.

Bordeaux-Begles end wait for Champions Cup glory with vintage win over Northampton Saints

“I’m surprised if you’ve just won a European Cup that the first thing you do is try and start a fight with a 20-year-old, but fair play. I thought that was interesting.”

Mocking celebrations

Jalibert’s comments also come amid pictures of Bordeaux players and staff mocking Pollock’s iconic celebration from Northampton’s victory over Leinster in the semi-final.

Northampton Saints v Bordeaux-Begles: Five takeaways as half-backs put on ‘rugby connoisseurs dream’ in Cardiff

It’s what comes with the territory when you’re the sort of player and character that Henry Pollock is.

Jalibert himself was also seen recreating the celebration.

There were more traditional celebrations, however, with the fly-half again at the centre of it.

READ MORE: Northampton lodge complaint over Henry Pollock treatment as Saints allege Bordeaux ‘foul play’

Champions Cup Matthieu Jalibert

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