Bordeaux-Begles vs Toulouse Prediction: Local heroes can reach first final

Champions Cup holders Toulouse were hit with another fitness blow on Friday, with Thomas Ramos ruled out with a calf injury. It was the latest in a run of injury setbacks for Le Stade and could cost them when they head north to face Bordeaux at the Matmut Atlantique in Sunday's second semi-final.

This is Bordeaux's first appearance in the last four of this tournament but they have won three of their last four meetings with Ugo Mola's men. The odd one out was last season's Top 14 campaign when they were walloped 59-3 in Marseille. That result betrayed their lack of defensive discipline, but Les Girondins have the attacking firepower to score from anywhere and look well priced to book their place in the final at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on May 24.

Rugby Union Odds

Team news

Bordeaux have named prop Ben Tameifuna on the bench for his first appearance since injuring his calf in last month's win over Munster.

Scrum-half Maxime Lucu captains Les Girdondins and is joined in the halves by Matthieu Jalibert, with former Ireland man Joey Carbery on the bench.

Toulouse captain Antoine Dupont is still sidelined with a knee injury, while Blair Kinghorn (knee), Richie Arnold (hamstring), Peato Mauvaka (knee), Theo Ntamack (ankle) and Ramos (calf) are also out.

Kinghorn and Ramos' absences mean utility player Juan Cruz Mallia starts at full-back and may take over the goal-kicking duties, although Romain Ntamack is another option, while scrum-half Paul Graou continues to deputise for Dupont.

Match odds, Bordeaux vs Toulouse

Bordeaux are 21/20 for a fourth win in five meetings with Toulouse, while the holders and record six-time European champions are 4/5 and the tie is 20/1.

Bordeaux to win @ 21/20

Bordeaux have had a nasty habit of freezing on the big stage. They lost to an unfancied Harlequins in last season's Champions Cup quarter-finals before being totally outplayed in the Top 14 final, but look to be playing Toulouse at the perfect time.

Dupont's injury was always going to require a rethink but with hooker Mauvaka, wing Kinghorn and full-back Ramos out, they have lost three players who might well be the best in their positions.

Bordeaux will look to fly out of the traps by giving Lucu and Jalibert quick ball to find exciting wings Damien Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey.

The pair have scored 18 tries between them in this season's Champions Cup, contributing to Bordeaux averaging over 50 points per game.

However, their work without the ball does occasionally make it seem like some of their stars see defensive play as an optional extra that may not have been included in their contracts.

In the last 16 they conceded 31 points to Ulster and then 29 in beating Munster in the quarter-finals.

They have obvious weaknesses, but few teams can match them in attack, and with Toulouse significantly impacted by injuries, backing the home win looks too good to turn down, especially in front of their local crowd.

Rugby Union Betting Tips from Betfred Insights.