No doubt questions will be asked about the impact the "Will he, won't he?" Brian Ashton saga had on Bath's preparation for this match but from my vantage point we lost this game because the tough and uncompromising style of Biarritz forced Bath back in to a tighter game than they would have preferred and we always knew Bath wouldn't win a bish, bash, bosh type of match. Biarritz were aware that if Bath managed to get the ball moving anywhere within 30 metres of the French goal line there would be trouble so they hit the Bath players early and very hard. The disruption of the Bath lineout was key to ensuring the visitors didn't set up a clean platform from which to attack.

Yes there were fouls missed by the referee, yes we dropped the ball at key moments and yes we gave away too many penalties: but the same could be said for both sides. The trips and eye-gouging are awful to watch and should be stamped(sic) out of rugby. However this was a semi-final of the European Cup against a team that had failed to reach the Final in the last two years, it wasn't a game of mini-rugby! 

Steve Borthwick and his Massif knew they would leave the field battered and bruised, having taken every cheap shot in the book (and some still to be written down). They also knew that to win this game they would have to play rugby and not get sucked in to the same trap as Sale a few weeks earlier. Bath played better than Sale, however they were always trailing Biarritz on the scoreboard which places extra pressure in a tight match and therefore errors were bound to occur.

Biarritz dominated much of the first 20 minutes and got an early score after Andy Beattie was penalised for closing the gap in the line-out to give Yachvili his first pot at goal and three points. Bath were unlucky with this decision as the Biarritz hooker, August, delayed the throw and I've seen quite a few referees give a free-kick against the thrower for this. Whilst Bath had their share of the ball it was mainly in midfield and the home size did a good job of keeping the visitors away from their goal line.

A second Yachvili penalty after 15 minutes, following Steve Borthwick being offside at a ruck near the Bath line, made the score 6-0 but this could have been very different had the referee spotted how Betson tripped Alex Crockett in the lead up to the penalty. However Chris Malone kicked the first of his three penalties a few moments later following a Biarritz infringement at the ruck following Bath restarting the game. Two more penalties were traded by both sides to make the score 9-6. Going in for a rest at half-time just three points down was as a good as going in on even terms and the home side must have been quite worried at this stage.

The teams started the second half as they did the first, with Biarritz taking the initiative and Bath giving away an early penalty. This time it was for a perceived block by Lipman on Traille as he chased and up and under. This reminded me very much of a footballer who goes looking for a penalty by running in to an opponent in the penalty area to gain an advantage for his side. Traille is a big bloke and knew exactly what he was doing. Lipman had his eye on the ball and it looked very much like a gentle collision and certainly not something resulting in three points. Damian Traille hurt Bath again within a few moments, this time honestly, with an excellent drop goal after his forwards had driven to the edge of the Bath twenty-two.

Bath's best try-scoring opportunities came around the hour mark as they tried to up the tempo after Brian Ashton introduced Delve, Finau and Fuimaono-Sapolu. Yachvili was lucky not to be penalised for a spear-tackle on Chris Malone which brought a promising Bath attack to a halt. Bory and Finau made good runs towards the line but both times couldn't hold on to the ball. It was noticeable that when Bath dropped the ball it fell forward whereas for Biarritz the ball fell backwards so they could keep their drives alive.

A potential turning point in the game followed a fight in the pack which saw Danny Grewcock and Petru Balan sent to the sin bin but Bath were unable to capitalise on this diversion and all we saw was a further exchange of penalties to make the final score 18-9. 

There's little left to enthuse players or supporters in this season and most will be looking forward to the end. With our status in the Premiership safe for another year and no more Cup action to enjoy the biggest issue for all will be whether Brian Ashton stays or goes to the RFU.

Biarritz: Brusque, Gobelet, Bidabe, Traille, Bobo, Peyrelongue, Yachvili, Balan, August, Johnson, Thion, Couzinet, Betsen, Dusautoir, Harinordoquy.
Replacements: Noirot, Lecouls, Olibeau, Carizza, Dupuy, Martin Arramburu, Dambielle.

Bath: Stephenson, Higgins, Crockett, Barkley, Bory, Malone, Walshe, Filise, Mears, Bell, Borthwick, Grewcock, Beattie, Lipman, Fea'unati.
Replacements: Dixon, Barnes, Delve, Short, Finau, Williams, Fuimaono-Sapolu.

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

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