Cardiff Blues have beaten Cup favourites Stade Francais. I'm putting it bluntly, because honestly, I still can't quite believe it. It's not the result which amazes me, after all, we've had an excellent season and were magnificent last week, but the style in which the match was won, and that apart from a hairy 5 minutes towards the end, the French Champions were never even close enough to scare us!

This wasn't one of those games where the lesser teams shows heart and courage to grind out a close, low scoring match for a famous victory over the European big boys, this was Cardiff standing up and saying, ‘in fact we are the big boys'.

If you stayed at home to watch on sky, not only did you miss one hell of a performance on the pitch, but you missed a true experience in the stands. Not for years have I hear a more vocal Arms Park crowd, who along with screaming and shouting their voices raw, were forever in chorus of chants. From the traditional ‘Cardiff-Cardiff' war cry to the new fan favourite ‘tee-tow, tee-tow!', and yes, even a sterling rendition of ‘Bread of Heaven'.

Cardiff are back.

The intentions of the players were clear from the offset, as within literally 30 seconds, Tom James had crossed the line and touched down, only to be called back for a forward pass.

But the lively crowd of over 12,000 didn't have too much longer to wait until the Blues crossed again, and this time, it counted. A wonderful set piece move saw Dai Flannagan tap a gorgeous inside pass to the running Gareth Thomas. His break through a huge midfield gap set the Blues on their way, before floating a pass to Jamie Robinson to touch down unchallenged, converted by ‘Dai Flan' who had already slotted a penalty, for a 10-0 lead.

Flannagan missed his next shot at goal, but the young fly half wasn't phased, and he coolly scored at his next attempt for 13-0

Stade eventually found their way in the match after a blitzing start by the home side, but despite piling on the pressure, there was no give in the Blues defence who were turning over miraculous amounts of ball, and making huge tackles.

But after a good 20 minutes of possession, something gave in the Blues proud back line, and the numbers eventually told as winger Arias crossed for a converted try.

But their celebrations were short lived.

With the last move of the half, Tom James showed his huge raw potential, scoring a great solo try. The young Welsh winger ran through the tackle of French international stand off Skrela, and stepped out of another before turning on the gas to score from a position where very little was on. Flannagan converted to give a fully deserved lead at half time.

Half Time

Cardiff Blues 20 Stade Francais 7

Having run off to a thunderous applause from the home fans, and then returned to a similar reception, the Blues boys were again motivated from the kick off.

Skrela scored a penalty in the first minute of the half, but in keeping with the anything-you-can-do-I-can-do-better attitude, Stade's comeback was short lived. From the resulting kick off, the fly half's clearance kick was charged down by Paul Tito, who then changed his route of running to dive on the lose ball over the Stade try line. After a TMO decision, the try was given and again came the chorus of chants. Flannagan couldn't convert from out wide, but the Blues now held a 15 point cushion.

Two Skrela pens brought the French League Champions within 9 points, but when Roncero was sin binned for a blatant block on Gareth Thomas, The Blues could sense that a 4^th try bonus point may be on the cards. However, in their eagerness to finish off the match and claim all 5 points, the Blues instead conceded on the right wing as flanker Burban did very well to stay in field and touch down, although in truth Alfie's weak tackle allowed the big man the score.

Suddenly, the Blues had gone from potentially taking 5 points, to being able to draw the game. At 28-21 not only was the draw on for Stade, but at very least there was a valuable bonus point on offer for the visitors.

But in fairytale fashion, the young man came in as Dai Flannagan capped off a great personal and team performance by slotting a 30 meter drop goal to secure the win for Cardiff, and stop Stade leaving with anything other than their tails between their legs.

Final Score

Cardiff Blues 31 Stade Francais 21

Man of the Match - Maama Molitika
As cliché as it is to say, it's near impossible to pick out just one man for today's award but it was most certainly true today. Normally when a team plays magnificently well and everyone plays superbly, there's always one man who just did that little extra, or was the man that got that extra try, but in truth each and every player deserves as much credit as the next.

The choice to go for Maama today was simply because I can think for more times, having watched the game at the stadium and then again on TV, that he turned over ball, made the big tackles, went crashing into rucks and ran hard yards than a few other players, but only marginally. Honestly, a sign of how good everybody was is that Sky gave it to Tito, and I wouldn't argue with that. Similarly, Xavier Rush was immense and made some absolutely huge tackles. Flannagan was excellent, he controlled the game, scored his points and got the all important drop goal under pressure. Tom James scored a great solo try, and ran harder in defence than I'd ever seen him do before. Jamie likewise was so vital in defence and was making so much ground going forwards. Really, any of these players could've won MoTM, and I wouldn't have argued at all. So well done to everyone!

Blues (20) 31
Tries: Robinson, James, Tito
Cons: Flanagan (2)
Pens: Flanagan (3)
DG: Flanagan

Stade Francais (7) 21
Tries: Arias, Burban
Con: Skrela
Pens: Skrela (3)

Blues Coach Dai Young;
"The win has underlined the progress we have made, we're not the finished article, but we are going in the right direction and we have shown we are competitive with the biggest teams around. We have had lean years in Europe, not because we have underachieved as a team, but because we haven't been good enough. But we have come a long way, and although we are not in the quarter-finals, we are in a position to challenge."

Cardiff Blues:
J. Roberts, G. Thomas, Shanklin, J. Robinson, James, Flanagan, Spice, Jenkins, G. Williams, Filise, Jones, Tito, Molitika, Sowden-Taylor, Rush.

Rees for Spice (73), Yapp for Jenkins (68), R. Thomas for G. Williams (58), M. Williams for Sowden-Taylor (58). Not Used: Morgan, A. Powell, Selley.

Stade Francais:
Corleto, Arias, Glas, Liebenberg, Saubade, Skrela, Fillol, Roncero, Szarzewski, De Villiers, du Plooy, Pape, Burban, Martin, Taylor.

Messina for Glas (47), Bastareaud for Liebenberg (36), Albouy for Fillol (41), Montanella for Roncero (68), Ledesma for De Villiers (41), Blin for Martin (41). Not Used: Milton.

Sin Bin: Roncero (57).

Att: 12,114

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