Lyon I discovered quite some time ago is not a place for the gastronomically feint hearted. Bouchons are traditional lace-curtained, wood-lined little bistros particular to a city often called the “stomach” of France.

They began as local inns that sprang up to serve simple home-cooked meals to Lyon’s silk workers (les canuts), in the 18th century. By the period between the world wars, the bouchons were run by “les meres” formidable women who had worked as cooks for the wealthy bourgeois families of the region.

Their menus were local, their tables check-clothed, with humble rooms, and relatively small bills.

The bouchon is all about tradition. Their ethos is that to dine properly, you must surrender to the god of pork fat, giving yourself over to it with full heart and empty belly. Well my heart is probably fairly full already, and not necessarily of health inducing material as I genuinely await a cardiology appointment, so my pre-match meals are of a much lighter variety, but I digress.

On the menu this weekend at Lyon’s sold out Groupama Stadium were two mouthwatering Top 14 semi-finals starting on Friday night with Toulouse v Bayonne.

58,741 perspiring souls watched the brave Basques give everything against a Toulouse side who by their standards are not exactly purring at the moment.

Fly half Joris Segonds’ six penalties kept Bayonne in touch, but their inability to convert a try scoring opportunities until the 84th minute proved to be their undoing.

Toulouse on the other hand took their limited chances with tries in the 12th and 33rd minute from Ntamack and Graou.

After the disappointment has subsided, Bayonne will be delighted with their season overall and can make the long 736 km journey home with their heads held high.

Twenty-four hours later it was the turn of Union Bordeaux Begles and Toulon to battle it out in the second semi-final.

With temperatures touching 31 degrees at the 9pm kick off time, Bordeaux’s star-studded back line were ready to turn up the heat, but it was hat trick hooker Maxime Lamothe who stole the show with three touchdowns.

Toulon were in contention at half-time following a try from Faingaanuku in the 40th minute that made the score 15-10 at the interval. Toulon Full back Melvyn Jaminet was in sparkling form, but Bordeaux were superior in all facets of the game and never looked like losing.

With Bordeaux leading 39-17 and twenty minutes remaining, they were cruising to victory. A 79th minute try by Gigashvili converted by Jaminet made the scoreline a little more respectable for Toulon.

So next Saturday night in Paris the Top 14 Final will be a repeat of last year’s showpiece which took place in Marseille as Stade de France was being prepared for the 2024 Olympic Games.

Bordeaux appear to be at the height of their powers whilst Toulouse one could argue are looking a shade below their best, hampered of course by injuries to star men Dupont, Mauvaka, Capuozzo and co. But you write them off at your peril.