Bordeaux end Bath’s Champions Cup dream

Bordeaux secured their place in the Champions Cup final with a hard-fought 38-26 victory over Bath in a pulsating semi-final at Stade Atlantique. The match, delayed 10 minutes due to fan access issues, saw Bordeaux storm out of the blocks with a series of clinical tries, including a standout effort from Luku and a brilliant counter-attack involving Ben Spencer’s clever kick. Bath, despite a valiant effort and moments of tactical brilliance—such as a near-try from Muir and a well-executed line-out strategy—were undone by critical errors, including a failed quick tap and a missed opportunity to capitalize on a 10-point gap before halftime. Johan van Graan, Bath’s head coach, praised his team’s effort and resilience but highlighted concerns over inconsistent TMO reviews, particularly around head contact incidents that went unreviewed. He emphasized the need for greater consistency in officiating across all venues, especially when playing away in France. Bordeaux, meanwhile, were lauded for their composure, physicality, and ability to convert pressure into points, with Ben Tamifuna calling it a 'lucky bounce' and a 'lucky call' that helped seal the win. The final will now see Bordeaux face Leinster, who narrowly defeated Toulon in a tense, comeback-filled contest. Leinster, despite their consistent deep runs, face ongoing scrutiny over their 'choker' narrative, a burden they’re actively pushing back against. The episode concludes with tributes to Seb Adenaran Aluli and a farewell to a group of lifelong friends playing their final Colts match.