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Respectivement premier et deuxième de la poule 4 d'European Rugby Challenge Cup
Danny Wilson wants Cardiff Blues to continue their impressive form in the European Rugby Challenge Cup. The Blues are top of Pool 4 and meet second-place Bath Rugby in crucial back-to-back games.
Both teams have beaten Bristol Rugby and Pau in Rounds 1 and 2 to put them in a strong position to reach the knock-out stages. Bath are flying high in the Premiership, while the Blues have not won a PRO12 game since the beginning of November.
“We've got two tough games against Bath, but it's an opportunity to fight for a competition and see if we can stay there. We won both games earlier in the season and we're top of that pool. We certainly want to go in and fight to stay top,” said Blues head coach Wilson.
“It's about hard work. That's what we did to improve our performances to get the runs at the end of last season and the beginning of this one. Now, it is back to that to get us out of this patch.
“There's one place where we can put that right, the lack of accuracy against Ulster, and that's the training ground going into Bath.”
Bath will go into the game in the Welsh capital on the back of a brilliant home win over reigning European and English champions Saracens last weekend. The Blues warmed-up for their European return with a home defeat at the hands of Ulster Rugby.
Returning Blues hero Nicky Robinson is in contention to start after playing the final 20 minutes against Ulster, while Wales captain Sam Warburton could return after recovering from a shoulder injury.
Bath coach Todd Blackadder was left an unhappy man after his team's European Rugby Challenge Cup defeat by Cardiff Blues. - 10/12/2016 18:34
Bath coach Todd Blackadder was left an unhappy man after his team’s European Rugby Challenge Cup defeat by Cardiff Blues.
The English side simply never got going in the Welsh capital, a Tom Homer penalty all they could manage in a 28-3 reversal to the Blues.
Tries from Matthew Morgan, Alex Cuthbert and Scott Andrews and the boot of man of the match Steven Shingler won it for the Welsh region as they remained unbeaten in Europe.
Cardiff turned around 9-3 ahead thanks to three penalties from Shingler. Homer responded with a kick for Bath but that was as good as it got for the Aviva Premiership side.
Without the rested George Ford and Jonathan Joseph Bath looked listless in attack and kicked too much ball away when chasing the game in the final quarter.
Bath were never able to manage a response once Morgan and Cuthbert put the Blues in control. The former’s try was some score, Shingler ghosting through the visiting defence with a wonderful dummy. When the ball was recycled, Morgan finished in the corner.
Then, just minutes later, Cuthbert powered through four Bath tacklers to score. His fine finish was a reminder of the qualities which made him a British Lion in 2013.
His score was converted and there was still time for replacement prop Andrews to grab a third which was again added to by Shingler. It completed a memorable day for Wilson whose team remain unbeaten in Europe.
The Cardiff Blues boss paid tribute to Cuthbert. The winger has copped real criticism for his performances on the international scene with Wales but here he was much improved, capping his display with a fine finish.
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