Bath face Brive in the final of this year's Heineken rugby union trophy in Bordeaux next month, knowing they have already beaten the holders once in this year's competition.

Bath beat Pau 20-14 in a tense semi-final at the recreation ground on Saturday, but then had to wait 24 hours to discover who their opponents would be.

As the other semi-final unfolded it looked as if they would meet French champions Toulouse who led 16-11 with just a few seconds to go.

But Brive equalised with a try in injury time, and as both sides kicked two penalties in extra time, Brive went through having scored two tries to Toulouse's one. The final score was 22-22.

Bath were drawn together with Brive in pool C in the qualifying stages, and ended their unbeaten record in the competition, betaing them 27-25 at home. Brive, though, gained revenge a fortnight later taking the return leg 29-12.

Bath's assistant coach and full back Jon Callard is looking forward to the final in Bordeaux on January 31.

"It is a fantastic prospect for us," he said. "Although to be playing a top French side in France represents an immense challenge."

Callard will have to be as accurate with the boot in January as he was on Saturday, when he kicked 15 points in their semi final with Pau.

Brive will start as favourites to regain the trophy they won last year by overwhelming Leicester in the final.

Callard, though, is confident they can repeat their victory: "In the first game against Brive, we showed that we could compete, but were guilty of making far too many basic errors out there before collapsing under pressure.

"Before the Pau game, people were getting ready to write our obituary, but it was a huge result for us, one that has really lifted everyone connected with the club."

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