Road To Toulouse
Here you will find a series previews, reviews and interviews from all the matches that have got Dai Young's side this far. Hopefully this will ease your worries momentarily, as you enjoy the success we have already achieved, rather than worry about the next hurdle...
Cardiff Blues Vs Bristol, Cardiff Arms Park, Round 1
A new season of Heineken Cup Rugby kicks of, as the Blues go into Pool 3 with new hope after a second placed finish in the Magner's League the season previous. However, if they are to overcome Bristol in front of a packed Arms Park, they will have to do so without injured fly half Nick Robinson, who pulled out of the EDF Cup loss to Leicester the week before. Rookie Fly Half Dai Flanagan had a hell of a job on his hands!
Preview
Review
Martyn Williams Interview
Harlequins Vs Cardiff Blues, The Stoop, Round 2
Cardiff couldn't have wished for a better start to the campaign against Bristol, but their notorious away form was to be tested in the English capitol. If they were to stand any chance of qualifying in the same group as tournament favourites, Stade Francais, they needed to come away from London with something.
Stade Francais Vs Cardiff Blues, Stade Jean Bouin, Round 3
With Stade losing 17-0 to Bristol and Cardiff claiming a draw at Quins the week before, it the Welsh side who sat top of the pool going into the first of back-to-back games with the French Champions. Bristol had proved Stade were beatable, but surely this was a 5-pointer for the home side, any less would be a decent result for the Blues.
Cardiff Blues Vs Stade Francais, Cardiff Arms Park, Round 4
Having held Stade to a try-less 12-6, not only did the French miss out on a valuable 4-try bonus point, but with Cardiff staying within 7 points, the Blues chances of qualifying were beginning to look very good indeed. But with fate in their own hands for a change, would they mess it up, or could they at long last stand up and compete with the big boys of European rugby?
Cardiff Blues Vs Harlequins, Cardiff Arms Park, Round 5
With the ‘big one' against Bristol the week after, it was crucial that Cardiff got the job done at home to the London side. Even if fans were talking up the Bristol fixture before this game, the players simply had to get past this potential banana skin with at least 4 points.
Bristol Vs Cardiff Blues, Memorial Stadium, Round 6
It was do-or-die time. Cardiff, Stade or Bristol could qualify top of Pool 3 going into the final round, as Bristol hosted Cardiff in the biggest game of their short history. Cardiff needed at least a draw to get through, but getting anything at the infamous Memorial Ground was always going to be tough.
Preview
More Preview
Review
Dai Young Interview
Toulouse Vs Cardiff Blues, La Stadium, Quarter Finals
And so here it stood, after 6 labouring games - labouring for us the fans, as much as for the players!
Pos | Team | Played | Points |
1 | Cardiff Blues | 6 | 20 |
2 | Stade Francais | 6 | 18 |
3 | Bristol Rugby | 6 | 12 |
4 | Harlequins | 6 | 2 |
Can the Blues reproduce the sort of form they showed in the Stade Francais matches and actually pull of one of the biggest shocks in Heineken Cup History? Over 1,000 fans certainly think so, as they travel to France full of confidence that this side is capable of going all the way.
Stick with theArmsPark.co.uk all week as we build up to the big match this Sunday at 3pm (GMT).
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