Bordeaux-Bègles Mockery Drama Continues After Champions Cup Triumph

By John Otiso Rioba

Bordeaux-Begles' Champions Cup-winning side has continued to mock England international Henry Pollock following Saturday's European final in Cardiff.

Video has now emerged of France fly-half Matthieu Jalibert mimicking two of Pollock's celebrations: one where he checked his pulse by placing his finger on his neck and another where he pretended to shoot a basketball with a rugby ball.

Pollock was unable to stop the French club from lifting the Champions Cup at the Principality Stadium on Saturday, as they ran out 28-20 winners in the Welsh capital. However, what happened after full-time has dominated headlines since the final whistle.

The 20-year-old, who was called up by the British and Irish Lions following a rapid ascension, was involved in an argument with some of Bordeaux's team after the match.

Television cameras caught Pollock gesturing to his throat amid an argument involving Bordeaux’s Pete Samu, Tevita Tatafu, and Jefferson Poirot. That clash apparently came from a disagreement between Saints captain Fraser Dingwall and Jalibert.

Northampton, having lost a second European final after being beaten by Leinster in 2011, was left to condemn the French club's actions in the post-match press conference.

At first, that occurred in the changing rooms, with pictures posted on social media of the team mimicking the pulse check celebration.

However, that continued on the flight home, with Jalibert copying two of Pollock's more recognizable celebrations.

Having scored against Leinster earlier this month at the Aviva Stadium, the talented back-row put his finger to his neck to check his pulse - a celebration he later admitted to copying from Manchester United right-back Diego Dalot.

Earlier in the season, he had performed a nonchalant basketball shot with the rugby ball after dotting down against Castres.

Both celebrations were performed by Jalibert on the flight back to France, as their celebrations continued.

“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,” Jalibert said in a press conference.

The fly-half had been fairly vocal about Pollock post-match, accusing the Lions call-up of lacking respect.