Springbok hopeful Carlü Sadie has been named in Bordeaux Bègles XV as they host bitter rivals Toulouse in Sunday’s Investec Champions Cup quarter-final.
The clash of the two French giants is considered to be the tie of the round and is a rematch of last season’s semi-final.
Sadie will anchor a Bordeaux pack that laid down a major statement in the last 16, overwhelming the Leicester Tigers with a powerful display built on forward dominance and slick offloading.
Much of that platform has been built around the imposing presence of Ben Tameifuna, whose physicality at the set-piece has helped create quick ball for Bordeaux’s dangerous backline.
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Another South African will also be involved on Sunday, with former Junior Springbok Tiaan Jacobs named among the Bordeaux replacements.
But the defending champions know they face a formidable challenge against an Antoine Dupont-led Toulouse side renowned for their composure and attacking depth in knockout rugby.
They were equally impressive in their round-of-16 victory, with wings Matthis Lebel and Kalvin Gourgues finishing clinically as Toulouse repeatedly sliced through the defensive line.
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The rivalry between the two clubs has intensified in recent seasons, with Toulouse lifting the Champions Cup in 2024 before Bordeaux claimed the title a year later.
Bordeaux also had the upper hand in their most recent meeting, running out 44-20 winners in the Top 14 last month.
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BORDEAUX BÈGLES – 15 Salesi Rayasi, 14 Pablo Uberti, 13 Damian Penaud, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Maxime Lucu (c), 8 Marko Gazzotti, 7 Cameron Woki, 6 Pierre Bochaton, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Boris Palu, 3 Carlü Sadie, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 1 Jefferson Poirot.
Bench: 16 Gaetan Barlot, 17 Matis Perchaud, 18 Ben Tameifuna, 19 Tiaan Jacobs, 20 Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, 21 Temo Matiu, 22 Arthur Retiere, 23 Hugo Reus.
TOULOUSE – 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Kalvin Gourgues, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Matthis Lebel, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (c), 8 Anthony Jelonch, 7 Jack Willis, 6 François Cros, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 David Ainu’u.
Bench: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Joel Merkler, 19 Joshua Brennan, 20 Leo Banos, 21 Théo Ntamack, 22 Paul Graou, 23 Blair Kinghorn.
Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images
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