Bordeaux Bègles v Bath: Champions Cup semi-final – live

“Buzzing. Amazing,” says the Bath flanker Miles Reid of today’s occasion. He starts on the bench . “They have huge threats. They’ve got speed, they’re good on their snap attack when they turn over ball. We’re ready for the challenge and buzzing for it. It will be a 23-man game. How many games have we won at the end? It’s down to the 23. Just buzzing to get out here today. The breakdown’s massive. They’ve got threats over the ball, as do we: that’s my area today, really.”

Watch out for Ted Hill off the Bath bench, an absolute machine, plus Sam Underhill and the 20-year-old Kepu Tuipulotu. The starting back row – Josh Bayliss, Guy Pepper and Alfie Barbeary – will of course be key to their hopes. Santi Carreras at full-back and Henry Arundell on the wing … this is exciting.

Two of the more obvious players to look out for on Bordeaux’s team are the wingers Louis Bielle-Biarrey [who scored nine tries in this year’s Six Nations] and Damian Penaud, but there is quality wherever you look. Ben Tameifuna will be impossible to miss when he comes off the bench: the giant Tonga international made a massive impact late in the quarter-final against Toulouse.

“Be ourselves. Enjoy the moment. Grab the moment,” says Van Graan, the Bath head coach, speaking to Premier Sports. “Two fantastic teams … it’s the first for us in many years. Ultimately, it remains a game of rugby. We’re going to enjoy ourselves today.”

On the South Africa prop Thomas du Toit, who starts for just the fifth time in 18 appearances this season (a handy stat from reporter Claire Thomas):

“Thomas is the man for the big occasion in the scrum … we want to play the game on our terms … one of those terms was that Thomas starts … he’ll have a massive part to play, but so will 22 others. This will not be won by a single person … we believe we’ve got a great opportunity today.”

And also Louis Hennessy, a notable selection at outside-centre:

“We’ve got some fantastic centres … Louis was great on the wing the last two weekends … he’s been knocking on the door and we believe he’s the best option for today.”

Two frankly ridiculous teams and matchday squads. I haven’t seen any of the buildup, but surely someone said: “They’ve got great players, but so have we.” ?