Bath Rugby’s quest to retain the Champions Cup ended in defeat as they succumbed 38-26 to a relentless Union Bordeaux Bègles at Stade Atlantique Bordeaux Métropole. Despite significant absences in their backline, including key internationals Cam Redpath, Max Ojomoh, Joe Cokanasiga, and Lions prop Will Stuart, Bath remained competitive until Bordeaux’s superior precision and depth proved decisive.
Winger Will Muir impressed with two tries, including a spectacular finish, while Louie Hennessey scored a crucial third try stepping into the centres amid injuries. Tom Carr-Smith also crossed the try-line late on for Bath. However, costly errors undermined their efforts against a ruthless French side who capitalised on every opportunity.
Bordeaux’s balanced attacking play featured tries from Marko Gazzotti, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Maxime Lucu, Ben Tameifuna, and Temo Matiu. Their controlled performance ensured they advanced to the Champions Cup final in Bilbao on May 23, where they will meet Leinster, fresh from a narrow victory over Toulon.
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The match began with a quick strike from Bordeaux as an early overlap led to a try by Marko Gazzotti, leaving Bath on the back foot. England’s Ben Spencer, despite a questionable shoulder injury, orchestrated Bath’s response with clever kicking, enabling Finn Russell to level the score with a conversion.
However, defensive vulnerabilities were exposed repeatedly, with Bordeaux scoring twice more before halftime, including a try from Lucu and a penalty, establishing a 24-12 lead. Bath fought back fiercely in the second half, with Hennessey’s impressive sidestep try narrowing the gap.
Bordeaux’s Matthieu Jalibert and Louis Bielle-Biarrey continued to apply pressure, while Bath maintained their resilience, closing to within five points with 15 minutes remaining. Yet discipline issues proved costly when Charlie Ewels received a yellow card for a maul infringement, allowing Bordeaux to capitalize with a try from prop Ben Tameifuna.
Late efforts from Temo Matiu for Bordeaux and Tom Carr-Smith for Bath completed the scoring, but the result was settled well before the final whistle.
Union Bordeaux Bègles lineup included notable figures such as captain Maxime Lucu and towering prop Ben Tameifuna, while Bath fielded a resilient squad led by Ben Spencer despite their injury woes.
In a fiercely contested semi-final, Bordeaux demonstrated the ruthless efficiency required to progress, ending Bath’s hopes of a consecutive Champions Cup triumph.