Bordeaux-Begles star Joey Carbery is dreaming fondly of adding another Champions Cup trophy to his collection later this month after a thoroughly entertaining semi-final victory over Toulouse on Saturday.

The 29-year-old fly-half, who won the European prize in 2018 with Leinster, entered the field of play with 10 minutes remaining as Matthieu Jalibert took his well deserved rest.

It was a comprehensive victory for Bordeaux, as they downed their fellow countrymen 35-18.

Keen to finish the job

Asked how he felt following the match, Carbery said: “It’s pretty incredible. Given the group we have, I think we all knew we could get there, but to actually do it, it just shows that all our hard work is paying off. But it’s only the final, we want to go and win it now. It’s great for us and it’s great to get one over Toulouse as well.”

Taking place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Bordeaux will face a confident Northampton Saints side that on Saturday dumped out the mighty Leinster on home turf.

“It was a crazy game really in the end, but jeez Northampton, I think they played the perfect game,” reflected the former Munster star.

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“It was great for them to get one over Leinster. I think they’re going to be a huge challenge, but I think they’re very similar to us, they’ve got threats all over the park, so it’s going to be a good final.”

Praising the 16th man for always being so vocal and loud, the out-of-favour Irish international reflected on the fans’ impact on their form: “We play for ourselves, but we also play for them. So it feels like there’s a lot more than just this team and the 15 that are on the pitch, that we play for Bordeaux.

“It’s pretty special. And I think how far it’s come in the last maybe 20 years as well, I haven’t been here long enough, but it’s still so special to be part of, and you can feel like there’s a proper meaning behind it all. It’s an incredible team to play for.”

Speaking about the potential of a trophy win, Carbery added: “The significance of getting a trophy for this club, and what that means is enormous. From where we’ve started to where we are now, I think it would be incredible to get the first proper trophy for the club would be immense. To be part of it would be insane.”

The incredible superstar winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey

With the sheer star-power in the Bordeaux line-up, it’s difficult to pick out one particular player that stands out above the rest. But right now, Louis Bielle-Biarrey is doing a good an extremely good job of getting himself noticed. Another two tries yesterday, including one almost length of the field effort, saw the flying winger pick up all the plaudits once again – but what do his teammates think about him?

“He’s incredible,” said Carbery. “For a 10 to be able to know that him and Damian [Penaud] are on the wings, it makes my job pretty easy. He’s obviously got the speed, but he’s also got the intelligence. He knows where to be and how to get there. And then he’s got blistering and incredible finishing on the back of it. So he’s a pretty special player.”

As it turns out, he’s not too shabby from the boot either: “Even yesterday in the captain’s run, he was kicking goals from 60 metres. He can do it all.”

Carbery on facing ‘unstructured’ Northampton Saints in the final

“I think they’re very similar to us,” Carbery noted. “And I think that’s as big of a compliment as I can give. I think it’s a great way they play.

“I even saw a stat yesterday that all their tries came from unstructured play. We know they’re dangerous from anywhere. I’ve played against them a couple of times throughout the years, and they’re a really difficult team.”

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Life in Bordeaux and playing with Jalibert

Life in the south of France is treating the Irishman well by all accounts, telling reporters after the game that “It’s not the worst place to live. And the weather’s a little bit better than Ireland. The city’s beautiful.”

He admitted that getting to grips with the language was a little difficult, but noted that he couldn’t have asked for a better first year in the city.

Discussing his relationship with fellow fly half, Matthieu Jalibert, Carbery said: “We have a bit of competition there as well, but I’ve played a few times with him at 15. When I’ve been at 15, he’s been at 10. So, it’s a good relationship there. He was very good today – he’s got it all.”

Bordeaux will face Northampton Saints at in the Investec Champions Cup final at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Saturday 24 May 2025.

Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/joey-carbery-aims-for-first-proper-trophy-but-bordeaux-star-expects-huge-challenge-from-northampton