Key events<\/p>\n
Show key events only<\/p>\n
Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n
Robert Kitson\u2019s report has landed:<\/p>\n
Thanks for reading, congratulations to Bordeaux, commiserations to Bath<\/a>. Bring on the final.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Rob Kitson’s match report from BordeauxShare<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cSo proud of these lads,\u201d says the Bath<\/a> scrum-half Spencer. \u201cHow far we\u2019ve come since Johann came.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought we put up a real good fight. There were a few key moments that went their way. But ultimately it was a step too far.<\/p>\n \u201cAt half time there was still huge belief. We thought we could get on top of them \u2026 We let them out and they went down the other end and scored. It\u2019s tough to come back against them when you\u2019re up against it. Credit to Bordeaux, but hugely proud of the lads.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s obviously a great experience for these young guys \u2026 we\u2019ll take the learnings out of this game, still loads to play for in the Prem. Regather back on Wednesday and look forward to the rest of the season.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re a great side \u2013 but I\u2019m hugely proud of our group.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben Spencer kicks. Photograph: Romain Perrocheau\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.24 EDT<\/p>\n \u201cAppreciate you, Martin,\u201d says Obano to Bayfield at the end of that excellent, honest interview.<\/p>\n Bet you he watches the NFL.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.19 EDT<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a sad feeling \u2026 but there were opportunities we didn\u2019t take,\u201d says Beno Obano of Bath<\/a>. \u201cI don\u2019t know if we can take solace in that, but it\u2019s kind of on us. We can get better. It\u2019s a matter of taking those moments. We didn\u2019t take them today. We have to look at ourselves. There\u2019s a lot we can do better, if I am honest.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are close. We believe in each other. We trust in each other. It\u2019s a matter of being honest with ourselves \u2026 and making sure we don\u2019t make those same mistakes in big games.<\/p>\n \u201cThey attack really well. They move the ball really well. If you get caught too narrow they exploit it \u2026 that\u2019s what they did exceptionally well \u2026 you can\u2019t make mistakes in these big games. You can\u2019t make errors. Good teams like that exploit that.<\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t really feel pressure. We wanted to be the best version of ourselves, and we were at times \u2026 but the times we weren\u2019t, we were punished.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s incredible,\u201d says try-scoring prop Ben Tameifuna. \u201cWe\u2019ve had a great season in the Champions Cup<\/a>. We are just fortunate to have the game here in our back yard. The crowd was amazing, big up to them.<\/p>\n \u201cConditions weren\u2019t the best today. It was about keeping the ball and building phases and apply pressure. We just happened to get the bounce of that, and a few calls our way.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not done yet. We\u2019ve got another big game to come.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve got class players. They didn\u2019t give up. They still wanted to have a crack. Credit to them and best of luck for the rest of their season \u2026<\/p>\n \u201cLeinster are a top side. Just like Bath<\/a>. It\u2019s going to be a good one \u2026 It\u2019s going to be who can hold the ball the longest and build pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben Tameifuna (second right) after scoring. Photograph: Romain Perrocheau\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.14 EDT<\/p>\n \u201cWe are gutted,\u201d says Finn Russell. \u201cWe went behind, fought ourselves back in the second half, and didn\u2019t take our chances and gave them soft entries into our 22 \u2026 at this level, you give soft penalties away and make silly mistakes, you get punished.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll be better for this \u2026 there is a lot of frustration and disappointment \u2026 but when we come back in tomorrow we\u2019ll look at it, and how we get ready for Exeter next weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.14 EDT<\/p>\n And perhaps it\u2019s a little harsh to say Bath<\/a> over-committed in defence \u2013 the problem with playing Bordeaux is that they have so many powerful carriers and their handling is so sharp, you need a lot of manpower to stop them, which in turn can leave you short out wide.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.08 EDT<\/p>\n \u201cYou have to get the little bits and pieces right,\u201d says Lawrence Dallaglio on commentary for Premier Sports. \u201cThe further up the tree you go, you have to do the simple things over and over again, correctly. Bordeaux were better than that at Bath<\/a> today and that\u2019s why they won.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.15 EDT<\/p>\n Full-time: Bordeaux 38-26 Bath<\/p>\n C\u2019est comme \u00e7a.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Try! Bordeaux 38-26 Bath (Carr-Smith)<\/p>\n A chip-chase by Arundell on the Bath<\/a> left culminates in a try for the replacement Tom Carr-Smith. But Bordeaux had switched off, to all intents and purposes. Arundell needed to be making that kind of impact when the pressure was on. Extras are added.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.03 EDT<\/p>\n 80 min: Time up. Lucu orchestrates the celebrations. Bath<\/a> have the ball and Russell finds Lawrence. Bath are just looking for a consolation.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 79 min: Bordeaux come again. The fans want more. But a forward pass that\u2019s also at someone\u2019s boots brings their latest attack to an end.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Try! 77 min: Bordeaux 38-19 Bath (Matiu)<\/p>\n Bath are ragged and when Jalibert loops a handsome pass to the left wing, it\u2019s the replacement back-row Temo Matiu who eventually charges over.<\/p>\n Les jeux sont faits.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.58 EDT<\/p>\n 77 min: The home fans are in full voice. Their heroes have the ball. They attack down the right wing \u2026 and there is the finisher!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 76 min: Lucu gets player of the match. Have Bath<\/a> been hard done by with the officiating? Maybe, but they\u2019ve also made some basic errors and over-committed themselves in defence at times, making it all too easy for UBB to pick them off.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.55 EDT<\/p>\n 75 min: Charge down by Moefana! Inside the Bath<\/a> 22! It looks like he\u2019s in for the try but the ball escapes him. Then Bordeaux are penalised for playing the No 9.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 74 min: Billy Sela is on for Bath<\/a>. Arundell claims a high kick and does well to cling on and get the ball to a teammate \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.53 EDT<\/p>\n 72 min: That fluffed lineout by Ewels feels like it was a turning point. And now he\u2019s in the bin. Bath<\/a> have the ball and try to shove a maul towards the try-line. Du Toit is involved. Then Lawrence. UBB continue to throw themselves into contact with abandon. And now they get a penalty.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.51 EDT<\/p>\n Try! 69 min: Bordeaux 31-19 Bath (Tameifuna)<\/p>\n Big man. Big try. Big all round from the tap penalty. Bordeaux finally get their try, from the enormous prop who always seems to make a devastating impact. Two more points added by Lucu with the conversion.<\/p>\n Is the game gone? It looks gone. But stranger things have happened \u2026<\/p>\n Ben Tameifuna scores a vital try for Bordeaux. Photograph: Romain Perrocheau\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.01 EDT<\/p>\n Yellow card for Bath! (Ewels)<\/p>\n No try, but Amashukeli thinks Ewels has been a naughty boy in dragging down the driving maul that had looked sure to make it over the line. And he\u2019s off to the sin-bin.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 68 min: I think this is a knock-on.<\/p>\n There is a lengthy check, and the TMO doesn\u2019t sound sure \u2026<\/p>\n \u201cGive me two seconds,\u201d says Ben Whitehouse. The crowd wails. They want a try.<\/p>\n But no! It\u2019s no try!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.45 EDT<\/p>\n Disallowed try! 66 min: Bordeaux 24-19 Bath (Barlot)<\/p>\n Woki nabs a lineout and then it\u2019s a fearsomely powerful shove from the French club\u2019s pack. It\u2019s dragged down but the referee plays advantage and the replacement Gaetan Barlot is over for the score. Or is he? The TMO will check the grounding \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.45 EDT<\/p>\n 66 min: Now a platform for Bordeaux with a lineout. Woki nearly powers past the cover on the right touchline. He offloads inside and Ewels eventually gets the ball and is driven into touch. Looks like Muir is injured, he\u2019s holding his arm, say the commentators. It was a very heavy blow he took in taking Woki down. Tom de Glanville is on for Bath<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.41 EDT<\/p>\n 64 min: Ewels spills the lineout from Tuipulotu\u2019s throw! UBB snaffle the bouncing ball! That is a terrible waste of a massive attacking platform. Retiere is first to the loose ball and Bordeaux are delighted to be off the hook.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 63 min: Arthur Retiere is also on for Bordeaux, immediately getting involved in a break down their right wing. The ball is worked nearly under the Bath<\/a> posts due to another run by Jalibert. Bath get a penalty, Spencer grabs the ball and hammers it downfield. Rayasi scuffs it into touch under pressure from Muir in the UBB 22! Huge territory gain for Bath!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 62 min: A very handy maul turnover for Bath<\/a>, by Josh Bayliss. This is good stuff. Now a scrum for Bordeaux on halfway.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 60 min: Given the strength of their bench, would Bath<\/a> have taken a five-point game after an hour? I fancy they would. They can win this, but they need to keep it clean in the referee\u2019s eyes and defend more efficiently than they have so far.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.33 EDT<\/p>\n 57 min: Bath<\/a> turn it over under lots of pressure near their own line. The ball is booted downfield, and Arundell and Bielle-Biarrey, momentarily, are in a foot race with no one at home for Bordeaux in the back field. But sadly the ball squirts out into touch and a ceasefire is declared between the two fast men.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.32 EDT<\/p>\n 56 min: So new back rowers for Bath<\/a>. Jalibert sprints through a gaping hole. He\u2019s tackled but then it\u2019s brought back for a penalty, I think from the newly-introduced Reid, for in at the side.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.34 EDT<\/p>\n 53 min: Ben Tameifuna, Cyril Cazeaux, Temo Matiu are all on for UBB.<\/p>\n And Bath<\/a> changes too: Hill, Underhill, Reid, Van Wyk on. Barbeary, Roux, Pepper off, plus Obano.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.29 EDT<\/p>\n 52 min: \u201cIn an imperfect tournament the selection of semi final venues would seem to be the biggest flaw,\u201d emails Andrew Moore. \u201cCan\u2019t be beyond the wit of man to reserve the main 6 Nations Test arenas for the semi finals and allocate neutral venues once the participants are known.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben Tameifuna is on, I think, let me check \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.26 EDT<\/p>\n Try! 50 min: Bordeaux 24-19 Bath (Hennessey)<\/p>\n Penalty Bath<\/a>. No yellow card is forthcoming despite some persistent infringements. They run through the phases again. Du Toit is among those to have a bash from close range. There is a pile of bodies on the line \u2026 Bath spin it wide, finally, and Hennessy applies a jinking score! He had men outside him, and that looked the obvious play, but he would not be denied and finished in style. He celebrates in style too. Russell converts. Game on!<\/p>\n Louie Hennessey goes over for Bath. They are right in this. Photograph: Lionel Hahn\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.43 EDT<\/p>\n 48 min: Many, many attacking phases for Bath<\/a> in the Bordeaux 22 \u2026 Arundell gets it on the wing again, loops around inside, and is double-tackled by Jalibert and AN Other. Then Russell feeds it wide, Carreras spills the ball with the try-line at his mercy! Carreras wants a high tackle, holding his face after a challenge by Rayasi, but the officials aren\u2019t having it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.22 EDT<\/p>\n 47 min: Attacking phases for Bath<\/a>. Arundell takes a pass on the right wing and looks to cut inside but he struggles to make a meaningful impact, which seems the story of his afternoon up to this point. UBB\u2019s work-rate in defence stays high. If Bath can get a try here it\u2019s really game on but their opponents are repelling them effectively at the moment.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.19 EDT<\/p>\n 45 min: Bordeaux attack down the left wing. Bielle-Biarrey tries to offload inside but it\u2019s straight to Carreras and Bath<\/a> can breath again. Kepu Tuipulotu is on at hooker for Bath, Tom Dunn off.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 42 min: Barbeary runs it down the middle \u2026 He bashes through Lucu, looking to go route one, but is then dragged down. Bordeaux soon manage to clear, but it looked like a head-on-head tackle from Lucu. Barbeary is hurt, and has a visible bash on his cheek, but it seems the TMO isn\u2019t interested in having a look. Are they worried about being stormed by angry French fans in the TMO nerve centre?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.14 EDT<\/p>\n Second-half kick-off!<\/p>\n Allez! A knock-on by Lucu immediately hands Bath<\/a> an attacking scrum inside the UBB 22!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.11 EDT<\/p>\n Half-time reading:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.04 EDT<\/p>\n Penalty and half time! Bordeaux 24-12 Bath (Lucu)<\/p>\n Lucu slots the penalty and Bath<\/a> are going to need something big in the second half to overturn a 12-point deficit.<\/p>\n As I mentioned at the top, the Bath v Northampton quarter-final was entertaining, but the defending was questionable and Bath have been exposed repeatedly during that first half. They\u2019ve also made some basic errors \u2013 but that shows the pressure they are under in every facet of the game.<\/p>\n On the plus side Bath have caused plenty of problems for Bordeaux in attack \u2013 and Muir has scored two excellent tries. But if the game continues in this vein there is no way Bath are outscoring Bordeaux in the second 40.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.58 EDT<\/p>\n 39 min: A knock-on by Barbeary now, from a poor pass by Spencer, from a messy lineout via Charlie Ewels. A scrum for Bordeaux just outside the Bath<\/a> 22, yet again. UBB smash up the middle, or rather ghost up the middle via Penaud initially. Guy Pepper is penalised and Lucu will kick.<\/p>\n \u201cBath have got to be better defensively,\u201d says Dallaglio. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to stay square, once the ball\u2019s gone past you, then you push off \u2026 you can\u2019t afford to rush up, turn your shoulders out, and then the likes of Lucu and Jalibert are stepping you on the inside. That is just bread and butter defence.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.55 EDT<\/p>\n Try! 35 min: Bordeaux 21-12 Bath (Lucu)<\/p>\n What a stunning score. Jalibert runs the ball after the scrum and feints to pass outside, but then switches inside to his half-back partner Lucu. Then the Bath<\/a> defence is fatally unbalanced and the ball is put through the hands, via a freaky bit of handling by Lucu initially as he taps the ball upwards and over his head, twisting to catch it \u2026 some desperate Bath defending near the line forces them to recycle the ball but there is no keeping them out, and Lucu crashes over under the sticks! Just lovely to watch, unless you are a Bath fan, or if you\u2019re watching and desperately trying to contain them from within Bath\u2019s defensive line \u2026<\/p>\n Maxime Lucu extends the lead for Bordeaux. Photograph: Romain Perrocheau\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.04 EDT<\/p>\n 34 min: UBB truck it up with a maul from the lineout. Lucu sends up a clever high kick, directing it infield, and Muir does brilliantly to claim it under pressure. Then Tom Dunn knocks on and it\u2019s a scrum for Bordeaux in a handy position, outside the 22 \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 32 min: Bath<\/a> are exerting a little bit of control now. They play a few phases around the 22, then Arundell tries a chip and chase down the middle. He\u2019s hoping for a kind bounce and doesn\u2019t get it, even if a crazy bounce does confound the first Bordeaux defender trying to snaffle it, Jalibert. Then Guy Pepper has a chance to run down the Bath left wing \u2013 he tries to switch on the afterburners but is dragged down and is then penalised for holding on. Penalty for Bordeaux.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.46 EDT<\/p>\n Try! 27 min: Bordeaux 14-12 Bath (Muir)<\/p>\n Muir is over in the corner after a stunningly intricate Bath<\/a> attack! Wonderful score! But a foot in touch? No! It\u2019s a try! That is a magnificent finish by the wing, leaping for the line and using his strength to dot down with a full-length dive as Lucu arrives to try and force him into touch. Muir is a big lad and he used all his physical presence there. But it was silky skill and co-ordination that enabled him to apply the finish, too.<\/p>\n Top-class stuff. Russell misses the conversion from out wide.<\/p>\n Will Muir scores a quite simply brilliant try for Bath. Photograph: Lionel Hahn\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.55 EDT<\/p>\n 25 min: Pressure on the Bordeaux line. Barbeary thinks he has the ball down but the ref says no. Still it\u2019s a penalty and Amashukeli tells Lucu the next infringement under pressure will be a yellow card \u2026 the ball pops up kindly for Bordeaux next and Lucu can hammer a clearing kick downfield.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 22 min: Lawrence offers a lovely pop pass to his centre colleague Hennessy, who roars through the defensive line and arrows towards the right corner! Bielle-Biarrey is on the case and drags him down, obviously no one is beating him for pace. Was there a high tackle by a Bordeaux player by Barbeary there after Bath<\/a> recycled and went for the line? Looks like a shoulder into the head by (I think) Adam Coleman. This could even be a red card \u2026 but no. The ref, Nika Amashukeli, says no clear head contact. That looks debatable.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.44 EDT<\/p>\n