Bath Rugby have received a significant fitness boost ahead of their Investec Champions Cup semi-final against Bordeaux Begles, with captain Ben Spencer cleared to start at scrum half. The 32-year-old had been a doubt due to a shoulder injury sustained in the quarter-final win over Northampton, but has been passed fit to feature in Bath's first last-four tie in 20 years.
However, Bath will be without backs Joe Cokanasiga and Max Ojomoh, who have been ruled out. Wales international Louie Hennessey partners Ollie Lawrence in midfield, while Henry Arundell is set for a head-to-head with fellow speedster Louis Bielle-Biarrey on the wing. Thomas du Toit, used as an impact replacement in his last six games, starts at tighthead as Bath look to exploit the absence of Bordeaux captain Jefferson Poirot, who is suspended.
The defending champions will also be without head coach Yannick Bru on the touchline as he serves a ban. The winner of Sunday's clash will face Leinster or Toulon in the final in Bilbao on 23 May.
Bath XV: 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Thomas du Toit; 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Charlie Ewels; 6 Josh Bayliss, 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Alfie Barbeary; 9 Ben Spencer (c), 10 Finn Russell; 11 Will Muir, 12 Ollie Lawrence, 13 Louie Hennessey, 14 Henry Arundell; 15 Santi Carreras. Replacements: 16 Kepu Tuipulotu, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Vilikesa Sela, 19 Ted Hill, 20 Sam Underhill; 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Tom de Glanville; 23 Miles Reid.
Bordeaux Begles XV: 1 Matis Perchaud, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 3 Carlu Sadie; 4 Boris Palu, 5 Adam Coleman; 6 Pierre Bochaton, 7 Cameron Woki, 8 Marko Gazzotti; 9 Maxime Lucu, 10 Matthieu Jaliber; 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 12 Yoram Moefana, 13 Damian Penaud, 14 Paolo Uberti; 15 Salesi Rayasi. Replacements: 16 Gaetan Barlot, 17 Ugo Boniface, 18 Ben Tameifuna, 19 Cyril Cazeaux, 20 Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, 21 Temo Matiu; 22 Arthur Retiere, 23 Hugo Reus.
