Lucu masterclass sends Bordeaux into Champions Cup final
by KickOff Rugby · KickOffBath made Bordeaux work hard, but the French team came away with a 38-26 win in their Champions Cup semi-final clash on Sunday.
Bordeaux wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Within two minutes, wing Damian Penaud exploited a gap, allowing No.8 Marko Gazzotti to dive over for the first try a phase later. Maxime Lucu added the conversion for a 7-0 lead.
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Bath responded strongly with an attacking spell that pinned Bordeaux near their own tryline. In the seventh minute, they were rewarded when scrumhalf Ben Spencer delivered a pinpoint cross-kick with his left foot for wing Will Muir to score in the corner. Finn Russell converted to level the scores.
It was clear from the outset that kicking would play a decisive role in determining attacking opportunities, a common theme in modern rugby. Bath initially enjoyed a slight edge in this department, but momentum gradually shifted in Bordeaux’s favour.
Lucu’s clever kicks from behind the scrum kept Bordeaux on the front foot. Their plan was simple but effective: kick, soften up the forwards, then shift the ball wide. Seven minutes later, Louis Bielle-Biarrey finished clinically in the corner. Lucu converted, making it 14-7.
Bath hit back when centre Louie Hennessey broke from halfway and kept the visitors camped on Bordeaux’s line for multiple phases. French indiscipline helped keep play in their own half, allowing Muir to score his second try in the corner. Russell missed the conversion, leaving the score at 14-12.
South Africa’s Thomas du Toit helped Bath win the first two scrum penalties, but the third went the way of Bordeaux – thanks largely to fellow South African prop Carlü Sadie and the home pack. Lucu slotted the resulting penalty try, extending the lead to 21-12.
Bordeaux added another penalty shortly afterwards to take a 24-12 lead into half-time.
The second half felt like a holding operation for Bath as they tried to prevent the game from slipping away. Bordeaux, by contrast, continued to build their momentum.
Even when Hennessey scored his second try in the 50th minute to make it 24-19, it never felt like the start of a genuine comeback. It proved to be only a minor setback, as Bordeaux quickly reasserted control.
Bordeaux’s next score came via a powerful try from giant prop Ben Tameifuna, a deserved reward for the forward pack’s dominance. The try also saw Bath lock Charlie Ewels sent to the sin bin.
Bordeaux continued to tighten their grip as Bath tired, with gaps widening in the visitors’ defence. To rub salt into the wounds, replacement Temo Matiu crossed for another try before the end.
Bath had the final say when Tom Carr-Smith scored a late consolation try, which Russell converted, but it was too little, too late.
Maxime Lucu deservedly walked away with Player of the Match honours for his excellent all-round performance.
Read this report in Afrikaans on Die Papier.