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Cardiff Blues will be determined to keep their unbeaten record in Pool 2 and to cement their position as leaders as they continue the hunt for a quarter-final place. - 15/12/2011 10:34
Cardiff Blues will be determined to keep their unbeaten record in Pool 2 and to cement their position as leaders as they continue the hunt for a quarter-final place.
The Welsh region have won all of their three Pool games so far and will be looking to do the double over Edinburgh in the top of the table clash at Murrayfield on Friday night.
The Scotish side, who lie in second in the Pool, have won six of their last eight home games in the Heineken Cup and will be looking to build on their recent home victory over French side, Racing Metro 92.
But the Cardiff Blues, who have beaten London Irish, Racing Metro and Edinburgh in their Pool, are looking for their first Heineken Cup quarter-finals place in three seasons.
ils accusaient 24 points de retard avant de faire un retour en force pour gagner de justesse 48-47 dans la Poule 2 après avoir marqué 25 points en l'espace de 17 minutes seulement
Greig Laidlaw inspired his Edinburgh Rugby team to turn the tables on Cardiff Blues and make amends for their defeat in the Welsh capital a week earlier and move back to the top of Pool 2.
The home skipper switched to outside half for the return match at Murrayfield and notched 14 points as he helped his team boss the first half to such an extent they took a 16 point lead into the dressing room.
The Blues, who were 25-8 winners at home, couldn’t get their hands on the ball in the opening 40 minutes and were lucky that the home side butchered a number of scoring chances.
While Laidlaw was kicking the points, his back line were prising huge holes in the Blues defence and the only surprise was that only one try fell to flying wing Tim Visser. Laidlaw converted off the touchline and also added three penalties and a drop goal.
“We dug in really well and we are delighted with the win. The forwards gave us a great platform and options. Full credit to the Blues for setting out their stall to leave with nothing less than a bonus point,” said Laidlaw.
Dan Parks, who had scored 20 points with his boot in the first fixture, picked up one penalty in the first half and then cut the deficit as the Blues forwards came more and more into the game after the break.
Xavier Rush led the fightback and two more Parks penalties put the visitors within range of a losing bonus point at least. Then a tiring Edinburgh conceded another penalty 45 metres out and up stepped Leigh Halfpenny to hammer home a massive kick with two minutes left to play.
The Blues settled for that, even though Edinburgh’s superior try count (10-5) took them back to the top of the Pool with both teams locked on 13 points.
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