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CARDIFF, WALES - NOVEMBER 23: Hallam Amos of Cardiff Blues looks on during the European Rugby Challenge Cup Round 2 match between Cardiff Blues and Leicester Tigers at Cardiff Arms Park on November 23, 2019 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)
Cardiff Blues will be looking to make it five wins from a possible five against Pau when the two sides meet at Stade du Hameau in the Challenge Cup on Friday night.
The Welsh region enjoyed a comfortable 54-22 win over the French side at Cardiff Arms Park last week but will expect a closer match when they clash on Friday night.
Key facts
- Pau have won each of their last eight home games in the Challenge Cup, however, the Cardiff Blues were the last team to defeat the TOP 14 club on home soil in Round 5 of the 2016/17 season.
- The Blues have won each of their last four away games against TOP 14 opposition, including victory over Lyon in last season’s Heineken Champions Cup.
- Cardiff have made the most carries this season while Pau have made the third most of any side.
- Pau’s Charly Malie has made the most offloads (7), while teammates Vincent Pinto and Tom Taylor are two of six players who are second on five.
The French side @RCTofficiel continue to set the pace in #ChallengeCupRugby Pool 2⃣
But after @scarlets_rugby's historic win – What chance do you give them of getting out of the group? 👀 pic.twitter.com/2GuCprwcO4
— Challenge Cup (@ERChallengeCup) December 8, 2019
Pau won a thriller at Stade du Hameau but Cardiff Blues’ two losing bonus points means both sides retain faint hope of reaching the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals.
All looked lost for Cardiff as they found themselves 24-7 down at half time with Mahomed Boughanmi, Geoffrey Moise, Pierre Nueno, Bastien Pourally all crossing the line for the hosts.
Owen Lane has started off the scoring with a try for the Welshmen after just three minutes, converted by Jarrod Evans. But Pau’s forward power then saw them take over and after those four first-half tries, Baptiste Pesenti added a fifth on 44 minutes.
CAN'T KEEP UP!!! pic.twitter.com/bXfGD3uKIo
— Cardiff Blues (@cardiff_blues) December 14, 2019
However, replacement Hallam Amos crossed for Cardiff then Lane completed a hat-trick to set up a tense finish.
Clovis Le Bail and Jason Tovey exchanged late penalties which meant Blues claimed two bonus points in defeat. They remain second in Pool 5 behind leaders Leicester,with Pau in third three points further back.
Blues now travel to face Leicester and host winless Calvisano in their final two matches. The Welsh region must win both remaining games and hope Leicester lose in Pau to have any hope of progressing.
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