And so six became four. Dreams of a Top 14 title have quickly faded for Stade Francais and Lyon, but for Bordeaux Bègles and Racing 92, the hope persists as they cruised through to the semi-finals following knockout wins last weekend.

Bordeaux will now face an even tougher test on Saturday when they come head-to-head with the mighty La Rochelle at the Anoeta Stadium.

Characteristically these two teams could not be more different. On the one side, you have Bordeaux, who have an extremely talented young backline, perhaps the most promising in the league. But with that youthful exuberance comes inconsistency, and that has been a lingering feature of the club’s season so far.

And then you have La Rochelle, the pinnacle of consistency. They possess the skill players to match Bordeaux but, more often than not, will use their sheer power and grit to grind a team down and gradually dent their resolve.

That’s how the men in yellow have manufactured a stunning run of form over the last few months, which saw them go seven games unbeaten in the league and win a famous second successive Champions Cup trophy by beating Leinster in Dublin.

La Rochelle are like an imposing heavyweight boxer, standing imperiously above each opponent with little care or consideration for the wellbeing of whoever stands in their way. Meanwhile, Bordeaux are like a nimble welterweight, striking with unfathomable speed.

This clash of fundamental philosophies should make for a cracking contest, not least because both teams are packing some serious arsenal.

With Matthieu Jalibert back in the starting line-up, Bordeaux will be a nightmare to defend against, as Lyon duly discovered in the quarter-finals.

In that contest, Bordeaux ran out eventual 32-25 winners, and it was Jalibert who opened up the scoring for the visitors with only six minutes played.

Having received the ball in the Lyon 22, the French fly-half drifted right, causing Lyon defenders to panic and back off, indicating the respect which Jalibert commands.

That fear was justified as the playmaker dummied, then quickly darted through a narrow gap to dot over for the opening try.

Other young stars like centre Yoram Moefana and fullback Louis Bielle-Biarrey deserve their dues alongside Jalibert, but they are not the only livewires in the Bordeaux backline.

Winger Madosh Tambwe may go under the radar a little, but against Lyon, he showed his true worth, speeding through tacklers on two occasions to cross the whitewash, the second of which coming in the final minute to snatch victory for his side.

Bordeaux leaving things late made for a fantastic spectacle, yet if they are to reach the final, they won't be able to replicate that feat, especially against a La Rochelle side renowned for closing out games with ruthless efficiency.

Things will be made even harder by the simple fact that the entire La Rochelle squad have enjoyed a one-week sabbatical from rugby after earning a bye to the semi-finals.  

And to makes things even worse for Bordeaux, Ronan O’Gara’s men are eyeing up a historic domestic and European double and their first-ever Top 14 title to boot. Expect them to be fresh, hungry and prepared for battle.

The key to unlocking the La Rochelle defence will be the Bordeaux backline. Their forwards will play an important supporting role in setting up quick ball off-set pieces, though they lack the punch to challenge the immeasurable power of the La Rochelle pack.

With the likes of Will Skelton, who is in the form of his life, Uini Atonio, who can override most props in world rugby, and back-rowers Grégory Alldritt and Levani Botia, who can outplay anyone at the breakdown, La Rochelle have the tools to dissemble any opposition.

That's why Flo Rugby believes Les Maritimes will walk away with a comfortable win, as their forwards prove too great a test for the Bordeaux backline to overcome.