Friday, July 27, 2007

This weekend on BBC Sport

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RAY FRENCH ON THE CHALLENGE CUP SEMI-FINALS
The Challenge Cup semi-finals are always huge but with a return to Wembley the prize for the victors, this weekend should be extra special.

First up is Bradford Bulls v St Helens on Saturday when the two most successful sides in the Super League era square up to each other.

It's a very tough game to call. Both sides have big packs who tend to dominate the opposition in midfield, so it will be quite a clash.

All round I think Saints have greater pace. In their back row in particular, the likes of Lee Gilmour and Jon Wilkin are very fast around the field and could cause a lot of damage out wide.

At half-back too, Sean Long and Leon Pryce may not have the kicking accuracy of Bradford's Paul Deacon and Iestyn Harris, but they have that extra yard of pace, and that might prove vital.

On Sunday, Wigan Warriors take on French side Catalans Dragons at Warrington's Halliwell-Jones Stadium.

No two clubs in the game could have a bigger incentive to get to Wembley.

Wigan hold the record for visits to the old Wembley and won the first ever Wembley final in 1929.

And Catalans are bidding to become the first team outside the British Isles to reach a Challenge Cup final.

It's a big ask for Catalans, but on their day they're capable of beating anybody.

Thomas Bosc, out with a broken arm, is a big loss to them but Stacey Jones is as good a goalkicker as any.

They've certainly got a pack that can trouble Wigan - people like Adel Fellous, David Ferriol and Jerome Guisset are rough, tough typical French forwards.

Wigan may be favourites, but I think it will be a closer game than most people are expecting.

BBC commentator Ray French played for St Helens, Widnes and Great Britain.

Ray French was talking to Paul Atherton.

THIS WEEKEND ON BBC SPORT
All the TV and radio times

RUGBY LEAGUE
bbc.co.uk/rugbyleague

Saturday
Challenge Cup semi-final: Bradford Bulls v St Helens (1210, BBC ONE & BBC Sport website; 1230, Radio Five Live/online). Participate in our interactive forum following the match, 1425 on BBCi.

Sunday
Challenge Cup semi-final: Wigan Warriors v Catalans Dragons (1500, BBC TWO & BBC Sport website).

MORE SPORT ON THE BBC
bbc.co.uk/tvandradio

Saturday
Cricket: Second Test, England v India (1045-1830, BBCi, BBC Sport website, Radio Five Live Sports Extra, Radio 4 LW); Horse racing: Ascot (1425, BBC ONE/online); Athletics: World trials (1500, Radio Five Live/online; 1635, BBC ONE/online).

Sunday
Cricket: Second Test, England v India (1045-1830, BBCi, BBC Sport website, Radio Five Live Sports Extra, Radio 4 LW); Athletics: World trials (1300, Radio Five Live/online; 1715, BBC TWO/online); Racing: Ascot (1325, BBC TWO/online).

...AND ON THE WEBSITE THIS WEEK
bbc.co.uk/sport

Tour de France 2007
Full coverage of the race climax

Test Match Special blog
Read about England v India at Trent Bridge

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