The EPCR Challenge Cup is back for one final matchweek as Bath Rugby and Lyon Olympique Universitaire (LOU) get ready to lock horns for the Final.
While the two finalise their preparations for one of club rugby's greatest showdowns, we take a look back at recent form and the results that got them to the Principality Stadium.
Having already confirmed a home semi-final spot for the Gallagher Premiership’s play-offs, Bath returned to The Rec ready to treat a jubilant home crowd.
And a spectacle is exactly what they were treated to as Bath saw off Leicester Tigers 43-15. Captain Ben Spencer led from the front to go over inside three minutes before Bath’s final score came courtesy of Will Butt in the 81st minute as they afforded Tigers no time to breathe.
Everything happens for a reason, and that’s precisely what Bath will think when looking back on their EPCR campaign. Starting out in the Investec Champions Cup, Bath’s fifth-place finish in the pool stage funnelled them into the competitive EPCR Challenge Cup.
It was imperative that the English side started the knockouts strongly as they adjusted to life in a new competition. And that’s exactly what they did as they hit Section Paloise for 49 on the road (24-49) to secure a ticket for the quarters.
A return to The Rec was on the cards for the Finalists as they welcomed neighbours Gloucester Rugby for a memorable West Country derby. Putting 60 past your rivals would be special any day of the week, but to get into an EPCR Challenge Cup Final would have been that bit more special for Bath.
And to top off their Final run was a trip north to Scotland to take on Edinburgh Rugby in the semi-final. The English side made light work of a side who had impressed with a double-South African giant-killing in the previous two rounds.
However, it has not been the ideal return to the TOP 14 for LOU after their inspiring semi-final win over Racing 92.
First falling to Section Paloise 27-29, a trip to strugglers Stade Français Paris didn’t go their way either as the Lyon side ended up one point short in the capital (31-30).
But with four tries – including one in the opening 10 minutes – scoring shouldn’t worry the Lyon side going into Friday’s Final.
Champions in 2022, LOU know what it takes to reach the summit of EPCR competitions. And they’ve repeated the form that took them to the title three years ago so far.
While the memories of that triumph will certainly serve as crucial should they overcome Bath on Friday, it’ll be results from this season’s run that will provide a solid foundation for the players on the day.
Overcoming Cardiff Rugby, Zebre Parma and Toyota Cheetahs in the pool stages, LOU qualified out of a demanding pool to propel themselves in the knockouts.
Last year’s champions, Hollywoodbets Sharks, couldn’t match LOU in the Round 16 as the French side ran out 34-21 victors.
They backed that up a week later with a changed XV in South Wales to out-might Ospreys 18-20 before finishing their final run with a convincing win over fellow TOP 14 side Racing 92 29-15 in the semi.
Teams:
Bath Rugby: 15. Tom de Glanville, 14. Joe Cokanasiga, 13. Max Ojomoh, 12. Will Butt, 11. Will Muir, 10. Finn Russell, 9. Ben Spencer, 1. Beno Obano, 2. Tom Dunn, 3. Will Stuart, 4. Quinn Roux, 5. Charlie Ewels, 6. Ted Hill, 7. Sam Underhill, 8. Miles Reid. Replacements: 16. Niall Annett, 17. Francois van Wyk, 18. Thomas du Toit, 19. Ross Molony, 20. Guy Pepper, 21. Tom Carr-Smith, 22. Ciaran Donoghue, 23. Alfie Barbeary
Lyon Olympique Universitaire: 15. Davit Niniashvili, 14. Vincent Rattez, 13. Josiah Maraku, 12. Theo Millet, 11. Ethan Dumortier, 10. Léo Berdeu, 9. Baptiste Couilloud, 1. Jérôme Rey, 2. Camille Chat, 3. Jermaine Ainsley, 4. Theo William, 5. Mickael Guillard, 6. Dylan Cretin, 7. Beka Saginadze, 8. Arno Botha. Replacements: 16. Guillaume Marchand, 17. Hamza Kaabeche, 18. Irakli Aptsiauri, 19. Félix Lambey, 20. Liam Allen, 21. Maxime Gouzou, 22. Martin Page-Relo, 23. Martin Meliande.