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Cardiff Blues centre Cory Allen reckons Rovigo will be a different animal at their Stadio Mario Battaglini home in the European Rugby Challenge Cup. - 23/10/2014 17:12
Cardiff Blues centre Cory Allen reckons Rovigo will be a different animal at their Stadio Mario Battaglini home in the European Rugby Challenge Cup.
Mark Hammett’s men take on the Italian part-timers on Saturday afternoon in a clash of contrasting European fortunes. The Blues saw off Top 14 play-off chasers Grenoble 37-14 at the BT Sport Arms Park last Saturday to take a step towards the knockout phase.
Their round two opponents showed their never-say-die spirit by scoring two consolation tries in their 70-14 thumping at the hands of London Irish.
The Italians have won one of two league clashes so far this season, and the Blues have also emerged victorious once in their six PRO12 outings. But Allen is determined to put their league woes behind them and flourish in the Challenge Cup.
He said: “I think it will be a pretty tough game. It's their first home game in Europe this year and, although last weekend it didn't go too well for them against London Irish, it's a home game and they will want to put up a really good performance for their crowd.
“We played well against Grenoble last week, we are looking to follow up that performance and get another win, score some tries and fingers crossed get the bonus point.
“Although we don't know them too well the preparation is the same as any game. You do your analysis on them and we have done that all week.
“Every team is a threat, it doesn't matter who they are. Underdog teams often beat teams they don't expect to. You can never just go out there and expect to win. We need to perform.”
Cardiff Blues kept up the pressure on Pool 1 leaders London Irish with a bonus-point victory over Rovigo. - 25/10/2014 16:05
Cardiff Blues kept up the pressure on Pool 1 leaders London Irish with a bonus-point victory over Rovigo.
In a contest dominated by the Blues pack, forwards Kristian Dacey, Josh Turnbull, Gethin Jenkins, Manoa Vosawai and Macaulay Cook all crossed the whitewash for the visitors.
Full-back Rhys Patchell added eight points with the boot to help the Blues to maximum points from their opening two Challenge Cup fixtures.
But the Welsh region didn’t have it all their own way against Rovigo, who had been hammered 70-14 by the Exiles the previous weekend. The Italians haven’t won in Europe since 2008 but took a surprise early lead when outside half Luciano Rodriguez intercepted a pass and went under the posts from 40 metres.
The Blues got themselves straight back into it thanks to a try from hooker Kristian Dacey, before the visitors had a second ruled shortly after when Adam Thomas was judged to have knocked on. The Blues’ second try came after 24 minutes when captain Josh Navidi and put flanker Josh Turnbull under the posts.
Prop Gethin Jenkins got the Blues’ third after half an hour when all eight forwards were involved in a push.
Rovigo full-back Davide Farolini clawed six points back with two penalties either side of half-time before the Blues had another try disallowed by referee Laurent Cardona.
Blues number eight Manoa Vosawai secured the all-important bonus point try when he crashed over and a fifth try arrived 10 minutes before the end from Macaulay Cook.
Rovigo managed a second try with the final play of the game, captain Jean-François Montauriol going over after some excellent work by the forwards.
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