UBB are now one of three Top 14 clubs to have contributed to five French triumphs in succession in the Champions Cup and ala La Rochelle they have taken to Europe in order to lift their first trophy and earn their first star. Also like La Rochelle, and Toulon before them, UBB don’t look like going away any time soon.

Saints failed to score a point in the second half. Bordeaux scored 217 points in the pool phase to secure top seeds. They then comfortably beat Ulster, Munster and Toulouse. Northampton was their toughest test in terms of final score.

Yet a post-match melee saw Pollock appear to gesture to his throat following a fracas that involved Pete Samu, Tevita Tatafu and Jefferson Poirot and appeared to be sparked by a clash between Saints skipper Fraser Dingwall and Bordeaux-Begles fly half Matthieu Jalibert.