Leinster, Ospreys and Ulster

The first three games of the season saw Dai Young pit his wits against the three previous Magner's League Champions, in the first six days of the new season. It was always going to be a very tough ask, but I doubt there were many fans pleased with the form following the opening week.

Leinster came to the Arms Park as Champions, and having done the double over the Blues last season, but were certainly outclassed by a tactically spot on home side. But despite Cardiff's superior territory and possession, they looked short of ideas when in the Irish twenty-two, and only had the one try through Ben Blair. Inevitably, when you don't finish sides off, they come back and get a try out of nowhere, and that's exactly what happened. Mustoe's knock on from an up and under was probably the only defensive mistake we made all match, but it cost us dearly, as the match ended 16 all.

Three days later, Young controversially chose a second string team to travel to the Liberty stadium, and despite holding their own for the entire first half, the Blues caved and conceded four tries as the Ospreys ran riot against our woeful back line. Whether this should be considered when reviewing the Blues form, as it was a shadow of the side that will walk onto the Welsh National pitch on Sunday, but I believe it should. After the match, feeling around the region has been poor, and that lack of confidence exuded itself the week later at Ulster, and debatably again against Sale. Either way, the match went down in the record books as a 31-10 loss.

When Ulster arrived at the Arms Park, the mood was tense, both on the pitch and in the stands. The Blues play was, well poor at best. Without wishing to dwell too long on their embarrassing performance, they scraped a 16-15 win after Ben Blair's penalty went in via the right post.

It was not a good start to the final year at the famous old ground, confidence was low and there were rumours of a behind-the-scenes bust up. September had not been going well.

Munster and Connacht

I for one was no looking forwards to this one. Having put over fifty points on the Dragons the week before, a trip to the European Champions, with their first team out, was not the fixture Dai Young will have wished for. But remarkably, the boys restored real pride in the jersey, with a performance that was inches away from a bonus point. However, Ben Blair missed an absolute sitter in front of the posts with the final touch of the match, and so we came home with nothing.

Perhaps it was the players redeeming themselves, maybe Conncaht really were that woeful, either way Cardiff recorded a highly satisfactory 58-0 win, scoring nine tries in the process. It was exactly what the Blues needed after an insanely difficult start to the season, a confidence boosting assault, without conceding a single point. Admittedly Connacht played like amateurs, they lacked defensive discipline and creativity going forwards, but as the saying goes, you can only beat what you're up against, and the Blues did that in spectacular fashion.

Sale

The EDF Cup match against Sale was a tough match for Cardiff to ever come out of looking good. Sale had put out a second string side, and the Blues were still lacking confidence, the pressure was put entirely on the visitors, and they didn't respond well. Dai Young was furious after the match, he like the rest of us was disappointed with the performance, although much like the Ulster game just two weeks before, they did scrape the win.

Despite the criticism after the match, it was an away win against a squad who had not conceded a try in the entire month of September, and they fought back well in the second half to take the victory. Performance or no performance it was a win all the same.

Calvisano

The first half display was little more than ok, but clearly a passionate half time team talk turned the game on its head as the Blues ran out 56-20 winners, scoring a record 8 tries against the Italians. It was certainly a very promising display, combining the generally solid defence from this season so far, with the attacking play of last year under Howley. It was the perfect start to the Heineken Cup campaign, registering a bonus for scoring 4 tries, plus it all adds up in the try's scored column, which could be the difference between a home and away draw come the Quarter Finals should we qualify.

So the form has been poor in general, but perhaps the most pleasing performance came away at Munster, while even the home match with Leinster was encouraging at least, but Gloucester will be something else altogether.

The Blues last home loss was way back on 4^th January, when Edinburgh turned the Blues over, 11-10. That would be a highly encouraging, if the match was taking park at the Arms Park, but our record at next door, isn't quite as promising.

Blues Next Door

Our record at the Millennium Stadium began well, when 15,372 fans, a Magner's League record attendance, saw the Blues prevail 40-31 in a thrilling game against Leinster. But unfortunately, that record didn't last. The second appearance was in a much similar situation as next weekend, when Leicester beat 14 man Blues, Gary Powell having been sent off for a head butt, 17-21. The final match was there 2 seasons ago, when The Ospreys won the EDF Quarter Final match 27-10.

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