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Cardiff Blues still have slim hopes of making the Heineken Cup quarter-finals if they can get a bonus point win over Exeter. - 17/01/2014 09:22
Cardiff Blues still have slim hopes of making the Heineken Cup quarter-finals if they can get a bonus point win over Exeter.
Phil Davies’ side suffered a humiliating 44-29 defeat to Exeter in Round 1 but have bounced back to give themselves a mathematical chance of qualification.
Toulon sealed their place as winners of Pool 2 with a win over the Blues last weekend but the Welsh side are one of seven in the hunt for a quarter-final place as best runners-up. They would need several other results to go their way – including Connacht to win away at Saracens and Northampton to win without a bonus point at home to Castres.
More likely for the Blues is a place in the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals, which will be guaranteed if they get a bonus point win against Exeter.
“We have something big to play for in the final pool game,” said Blues boss Davies. “If we can dust ourselves off and perform well in front of our own crowd we can still get something in Europe.
“If we can get four wins out of six I will be reasonably happy, and if that puts us into the quarter-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup that would be terrific. To have something to play for going into game six is great.
“We know we are better than we displayed against Exeter on day one of this competition.”
Despite their excellent start to their Heineken Cup campaign, Exeter have nothing to play for going into the final weekend as they prop up Pool 2 with just eight points.
They have the unenviable statistic of having missed more tackles (an average of 22 per game) than any other side in the competition.
Match facts
Exeter saw off Cardiff 44-29 in their only previous Heineken Cup meeting in October.
Cardiff Blues have won seven of their last nine home games in the competition.
Alex Cuthbert has the best average gain rate of any player who has made 20 + carries. He has an average of 10.9 metres per carry so far (33 carries).
Highlights:Cardiff Blues v Exeter Chiefs - 25/01/2014 17:00
Cardiff Blues will have to wait to find out if they have secured an Amlin Challenge Cup quarter final place after a narrow home defeat to Exeter Chiefs.
It didn't go to plan for the Blues, who would have ensured a continution of European rugby had they won with three tries. They found themselves 13-0 behind and it was the visitors who edged an error-strewn encounter.
It means the Blues' fate is out of their own hands as they will have to wait on several other results before finding out if their European campaign is over. Outside half Gareth Davies missed a crucial penalty for the Blues six minutes from time that would have levelled the score but his opposite number Gareth Steenson was excellent throughout, kicking four penalties and a conversion for the Chiefs.
Despite being out of contention for an Amlin Challenge quarter-final place Exeter started with real venom and were soon in front. After going through several phases close to the Blues line lock Don Armand crashed over from close range after three minutes with Steenson adding the conversion.
Steenson was promoted to captain for the Chiefs after Dean Mumm’s late withdrawal and he put the visitors in control with two further penalties. It took the Blues almost 30 minutes to threaten the Chiefs and two quickly-taken penalties sparked the home side into life.
A third penalty arrived shortly after and this time Leigh Halfpenny slotted the kick over from long-range. The penalty lifted the Blues and three minutes before the break they cut the deficit to three points thanks to an excellent finish from wing Alex Cuthbert, with Halfpenny nailing the conversion.
Halftime took the momentum out of the Blues’ play and it was Exeter who once again started the better of the two sides. They failed to make the most of their possession and that allowed Halfpenny to draw things level with another long penalty on 54 minutes.
But it wasn’t all square for long as Steenson nudged Exeter back in front with a penalty five minutes later. The Blues managed to drag themselves back into the game in the final 10 minutes and Chiefs scrum half Dave Lewis was shown a yellow card on 73 minutes with the visitors under pressure.
Blues outside half Davies took the resulting penalty with Halfpenny having taken a knock but he dragged his effort wide of the posts. Exeter raced down the other end and when Steenson was given the chance to make things safe he made no mistake with a penalty.
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