Bok bruiser books date with Bath in Cardiff

Arno Botha is set to square off with Johann van Graan’s Bath in the EPCR Challenge Cup final after Lyon beat French rivals Racing 92 at Matmut Stadium on Sunday.

A regular feature for Lyon since joining the Top 14 outfit in 2022, the two-Test Springbok started at No 8 in a 29-15 win for Karim Ghezal’s men that booked their place in the European cup showpiece in Cardiff on Friday, 23 May.

Under the guidance of former Bok assistant coach Van Graan, Bath progressed to the decider with a 39-24 win over Edinburgh at the Hive Stadium on Saturday.

WATCH: Saints stun Leinster, Van Graan’s Bath march on

Tries either side of half time on Sunday from winger Vincent Rattez and flanker Beka Saginadze, and 19 points from the boot of flyhalf Leo Berdeu set Lyon on course for victory.  

Racing pulled one back through hooker Diego Escobar five minutes before the break, but Lyon looked to establish some breathing space after the restart, a 47th-minute penalty from Berdeu giving them hope before Saginadze went over three minutes later.

Racing hit straight back via a converted Kleo Labarbe score, before a couple of Berdeu penalties extended Lyon’s lead and then held out to see themselves into a second Challenge Cup final since 2022, the year they won the competition.

Photo: Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images