Match Report. BluesVRacing Metro. HEC. Jan 2012

Cardiff Blues 36-30 Racing Metro.

Spoiler:

Over 8,000 supporters turned out to watch the Cardiff Blues narrowly win in this high scoring match.

Cardiff Blues continue their European form with a determined victory over racing metro. The visitors tested the Blues' rights to a quarter final spot with fast, accurate rugby that stretched the Blues' defence to breaking.

The Blues headed into this final pool game knowing a win would send them to the Heineken cup quarter finals, and knowing that a bonus point win for scoring four tries would win them the advantage of a home quarter final. Racing Metro, effectively out of the competition, came to Cardiff with nothing to gain, but equally nothing to lose. These were the conditions for a perfect storm of high-scoring, fast-paced rugby.

Spoiler:

Racing Metro prepare

Racing opened the scoring with a penalty shot at goal. The Blues responded in moments. Pinned in their half and under pressure Francois Steyn’s clearance kick was charged down and gathered by Wales capped Scrum half Lloyd Williams who touched down the first try.

Halfpenny’s increasingly dependable boot added to the Blues tally but a break out from Racing saw them cut the Blues' defence and score to take the lead.

The Blues and Racing traded penalties but the visitors held the lead. With the half coming to a close the Blues snatched back the lead with a try. Alex Cuthbert, recently drafted into the Welsh 6Nations squad, appeared to have knocked-on the ball but with the referee remaining silent Cuthbert played on and scored.

Late in the half Wales prop, Gethin Jenkins, received treatment on the pitch for a twisted knee, playing on for only a few minutes before limping off and being replaced by John Yapp.

With only a few minutes left in the half the scoring came apace. Racing again opened the Blues' defence and wing Sireli Bobo scored a try to give Racing a point advantage. The Blues took back the lead with another Halfpenny penalty. But Racing were awarded a penalty with 40minutes up. The kick successfully converted and Racing went in with the lead at half time.

Racing critical errors that ended many promising passages of play came back to haunt them in the opening moments of the second half. A miss-fielded kick by Racing left Cuthbert free to score a try and Cardiff Blues restored their fragile 6point lead.

Spoiler:

The Blues play a quick ball from the ruck

Racing stretched the Blues to near breaking point as they went in search of their third try of the afternoon, but again unforced errors were their undoing, much to the relief of a straggled Blues' defensive line.

The sides played another kicking dual as the clock ticked down, neither side prepared to give up the chance of points in such a tight, high scoring game. But with a home quarter final for the Blues only one try away, and with only their dangerously low 6point lead the Blues twice took the line out option from penalties in this dynamic game's denouement.

It was move popular with the fans, desperate and dangerous for the Blues, and for Racing Metro it was a final chance at creating an upset.

With a miscalculation at the final line out the Blues turned over possession and gave Racing a final chance to send the Blues crashing out of Europe. With the try line seemingly at Racing’s mercy a knock on ended their hopes and the match.

Although the Blues now face a tough quarter final away to Heineken cup holders Leinster, Coach Baber was upbeat; "We are absolutely over the moon to be in the quarter-final of the European Cup," Baber said. "We targeted being in it, and we have fulfilled our target.
‘We have got a character and ability about ourselves that manages to win games.’

The fact that Baber is pleased with Blues performance in an average group just goes to show how low they have stooped. You really need some decent coaches.