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Last season's Amlin Challenge Cup winners Cardiff Blues take on Edinburgh. - 07/10/2010 16:35
Cardiff Blues hope the European Rugby Challenge Cup can kick-start their season.
Blues have made the worst start to a campaign since the region was formed in 2003 with just one win from seven.
They have lost their last six games in the Guinness Pro12, including defeat in Italy Zebre last month.
However Europe has so often proved a pick-me-up for the Welsh region who have lost just twice in the Challenge Cup.
Tournament winners in 2010, they qualified for the quarter-finals last season where they were narrowly defeated by local rivals Newport Gwent Dragons.
They also have Wales internationals Sam Warburton, Gethin Jenkins and Alex Cuthbert back in their ranks and hope to have new signing, USA Eagles full-back Callum Dolan available after arriving from the World Cup.
But they are without their top scorer in this competition – Gareth Anscombe – for the first four rounds.
Head coach Danny Wilson said: “We can’t relax for a moment in our group. It virtually a Champions Cup pool when you look at the teams involved, so every game is vital.
“We are going through huge changes at the moment so Europe presents us with another chance to build our game.”
Calvisano have only won three of their 24 ties in the Challenge Cup though proved competitive at the Peroni Stadium in their last campaign (2012/13) that included holding French outfit Brive to a 20-20 draw.
Massimo Brunello’s squad are also in good form coming into the tournament. They share top spot in Italy’s Eccellenza having won four of their opening five games.
Match Facts
- This will be Calvisano’s first time facing Cardiff Blues or any other Welsh team in the Challenge Cup.
- Cardiff have won both of their games against Italian sides in the Challenge Cup including their biggest ever victory in the competition (104-12 v Femi-CZ Rugby Rovigo).
- Calvisano have won just three of their 24 Challenge Cup matches (D1, L20) however all three came on home soil.
- Cardiff Blues have won eight of their 10 Challenge Cup fixtures, including three victories to win the 2009/10 competition.
Lloyd Williams marked his 100th appearance for Cardiff Blues with one of his side's seven tries in a record 50-9 away victory in Europe that finally brought the Welsh region a win this season. - 14/11/2015 16:40
Lloyd Williams marked his 100th appearance for Cardiff Blues with one of his side’s seven tries in a record 50-9 away victory in Europe that finally brought the Welsh region a win this season.
The Wales scrum half, who was the top scorer in the Challenge Cup last season with six, dashed over for his seventh try in eight games in the tournament to help the Blues overtake the 36 points victory they notched against Rugby Calvisano in the old European Cup in 2008.
After six successive defeats in the Guinness PRO12 this win will have brought some much needed confidence to new head coach Danny Wilson’s side ahead of their home clash with Harlequins on Thursday night.
It was Williams and Tom James who crossed for tries in the first-half as the Blues built up a 15-6 interval lead. Man of the Match Ellis Jenkins, Dan Fish, Blaine Scully and Gavin Evans all crossed in a far more impressive second half that ended with a last-minute penalty try.
Rhys Patchell weighed in with four conversions and a penalty and Jarred Evans added two conversions after he came onto the field.
All the home points came from the boot of outside half Filippo Buscema, who kicked two first-half penalties and then one after the break.
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