Bath beaten by Bordeaux in pulsating Champions Cup semi-final
TL;DR
Bordeaux-Begles defeated Bath 38-26 in a thrilling Champions Cup semi-final, securing their place in the final. Bordeaux scored five tries, while Bath managed four.
Key points
- Bordeaux-Begles won the semi-final 38-26
- Bordeaux scored five tries in the match
- Bath scored four tries during the game
Investec Champions Cup semi-final
Bordeaux-Begles (24) 38
Tries: Gazzotti, Bielle-Biarrey, Lucu, Tameifuna, Matiu Cons: Lucu 5 Pens: Lucu
Bath (12) 26
Tries: Muir 2, Hennessey, Carr-Smith Cons: Russell 3
Bath were outgunned by Bordeaux-Begles on France's Atlantic coast in the English side's first top-tier European semi-final in 20 years.
Billed pre-game as Bordeaux's organised chaos versus Bath's structured efficiency, the French side's style prevailed as Bath were eventually worn down by the game's relentless pace.
At the sold-out 42,000-seater Stade Atlantique Bordeaux Metropole, the Champions Cup holders delivered a blistering first half with tries for Marko Gazzotti, Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Maxime Lucu.
Prem champions Bath were always underdogs but went blow for blow for the opening half hour, wing Will Muir twice getting on the scoresheet.
In a game of international quality the key match-ups were everywhere - Bielle-Biarrey v Henry Arundell, Matthieu Jalibert v Finn Russell - but it was young centre Louie Hennessey who got Bath's third try at the beginning of the second half.
From there Bordeaux took over, with substitute Ben Tameifuna powering over to exert control on the scoreboard and Temo Matiu putting the result beyond Bath, despite Tom Carr-Smith's late consolation.
Bath's wait for another trophy in this competition will stretch to 29 years, while reigning champions Bordeaux earn the chance to go back to back against Leinster in three weeks' time.
Line-ups
Bordeaux-Begles: Rayasi; Uberti, Penaud, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey; Jalibert, Lucu (c); Perchaud, Lamothe, Sadie, Palu, Coleman, Bochaton, Woki, Gazzotti
Replacements: Barlot, Boniface, Tameifuna, Cazeaux, Vergnes-Taillefer, Matiu, Retiere, Hugo Reus
Bath: Carreras; Arundell, Hennessey, Lawrence, Muir; Russell, Spencer (c); Obano, Dunn, Du Toit, Roux, Ewels, Bayliss, Pepper, Barbeary
Replacements: Tuipulotu, Van Wyk, Sela, Hill, Underhill, Carr-Smith, De Glanville, Reid
Sin-bin: Ewels (67)
Match officials
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy), Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Q&A
What was the final score of the Bordeaux vs Bath Champions Cup semi-final?
Bordeaux-Begles won the match 38-26 against Bath.
Who scored the tries for Bordeaux in the semi-final against Bath?
The tries for Bordeaux were scored by Gazzotti, Bielle-Biarrey, Lucu, Tameifuna, and Matiu.
How many tries did Bath score in the Champions Cup semi-final?
Bath scored four tries in the semi-final match against Bordeaux.
