Bordeaux v Bath Preview: Key Team News, Prediction & Semi-Final Insight
Match Details
Bordeaux v Bath
Sunday, May 3 2026
3:00 PM @ Stade Chaban-Delmas (Bordeaux)
Bordeaux Preview
Bordeaux have been scintillating this season and have racked up some big wins in the French Top 14 and also in the European Champions Cup. The talent they have is all over the field with the likes of Maxime Lucu at nine and Matieu Jalibert at ten pulling the strings and then when they get the ball out wide they have the likes of Damien Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey to score tries.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey made his debut in the Champions Cup in January 2022 and scored a hat trick against Scarlets in a 45-10 victory. Since then he has been one of the most dangerous wingers in world rugby with ball in hand. His record in the Six Nations for France this year was nothing short of outstanding with nine tries to boot.
The defending champions who defeated Northampton 28-20 last year will be looking to cement their place in this years final with some more style and panache and if their star studded line up clicks it could be another high scoring game.
Bath Preview
Bath have had a solid season in both the Premiership and European rugby and will be looking to get back to the summit of European rugby for the first time since they won the competition in the 1997/98 season.
They were put to the pin of their collar in the quarter final when they seen off Northampton by two points 43-41. They trailed 35-26 at half time but dominated the second half to get over the line.
With one of the best tens in the world Finn Russell in their side the creativity will come from there and then the pace and power on the outside lines from Henry Arundell and Ollie Lawrence could see them give Bordeaux plenty to think about.
Battle of the 10’s
The battle between Finn Russell (Bath) and Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux) will be intriguing and it could be the route to success for either team if it becomes a kicking game.
Jalibert has 1332 points in 150 appearances for Bordeaux whereas Finn Russell has 500 points in 54 games for Bath.
Tactically Finn Russell is astute whereas Matthieu Jalibert always looks for the attacking play and this could make it one of the games of the season so far.
VERDICT
I expect this to be a completely different game than the first semi-final and could see it being high scoring and going all the way. Both sides have plenty of attacking flair and it could end up being somewhat of a shootout. I think Bordeaux will just come out on the right side of it and again it will be Bielle-Biarrey who will be the main focal point.
PREDICTION
Bordeaux 49-39 Bath
