By Andrew Collins
January 15 2007

The Blues were out muscled, out classed and out played on Saturday, as they went down without scoring a single point!

You can thank your lucky stars that Sky chose not to show live coverage of this one, as if the highlights weren't bad enough!

5 minutes in, and the visitors were 2 tries down without a clue why or how.

Perhaps the only glimpse of hope came even earlier than that however, when a swift move straight from the restart almost put winger Chris Czekaj over, but a forward pass prevented the move going further. That was about all there was to cheer in the entire 80 minutes.

Leicester were brutal in their defence, turning over Cardiff at the breakdown an enourmous amount of times. Big tackles were flying in after the fabulous start for the English-men, but their stunningly physical contact area meant Cardiff just couldn't get their hands on the ball.

Yes, Cardiff were out of the competition prior to the match, but i doubt any away fan saw that coming. In the reverse fixture, it was Cardiff who dominated the match, but showed inabillity to grind out the win.

Today however, the Blues just weren't at the races.

It was an embarrassing mauling by Leicester, who gained their 4th-try bonus point on the half hour. Tries from Tuilagi, Hopkiss, the wonderful Daryll Gibson and equally effective Rabeni ensured full points for the home side, and while Cardiff were trying to throw the ball about, they simply couldn't keep hold of it for more than 3 phases.

It was simple stuff by the Tigers, who kept supplying their big men with the ball, and every time they were making 10-15 yards before being brought down. Gaps were appearing everywhere, making it all too easy.

In some sort of defence for the Blues, it could've been so different. The quick succesion of two break-away tries rocked Cardiff, and they found it hard to bounce back. Leicesters first was a well worked try, but in the second, it was a mistake by Phillips on our own ball, that was spilled, with a clear run in to the line for Hipkiss.

From then on, the Tigers had their tails up, and the fans were roaring just as loud.

Basically, the Blues were blitzed in the opening minutes, and were never going to find a way back. that meant that all penalties we did get were forced to go for the corner, rather than take the 3 points and look a little more respectable.

On top of those, rather feevle, excuses, Dai Young was missing key players. Rob Sidoli and Rhys Thomas' departures were felt with the poor line-out and scrummaging form, while Shanklin's prescence in midfield would've been a massive bonus.

But most missed was Wales' World Class flanker, Martyn Williams. Now 33, Williams is still in the form of his life, and would've sured up the ball on far more occasions than the inexperienced Shellard and his flank partner Ben White. Robin Sowden-Taylor too would have added more to the breakdown.

However the good news is that all of the above are set to be back by the end of the month, to resume duties in the Magners and Anglo-Welsh.

But there are still problems for Young in second row, with James Goode and Bardley Davies both missing for the best part of the season.

Going back to Saturdays match, and you just have to accept that Leicester thumped us. You can argue that we failed to turn up, we have injuries or that there was nothing to play for, but the simple truth is that they are a fantastic outfit, playing infront of a super set of fans, in irrestiable form.

You've got to remember that the Tigers are sitting at the top of the Guinness Premiership, and on that form, rightfully so.

It was an embarrassing result, and worse an embarrassing display.

To reiterate, out-muscled, out-classed, out-played and out of Europe.

Full Time

Leicester Tigers 34 Cardiff Blues 0

theArmsPark.co.uk's Man of the Match - Marc Stcherbina
Like all the boys, wasn't guilty of not trying, just well beaten by a better side with their tails up. Stitch's prescence was important though, and not just for his hard work and solid display. He could be seen talking to the young players all the time. He is such an influencal player to have, and stopped things getting far worse by keeping himself and those around him cool. He is forever teaching the likes of Macleod, Czekaj and Tom James, who learned their toughest lessons today.

Cardiff Blues
B Blair 7; T James 5, J Robinson 7, M Stcherbina 7, C Czekaj 5; N Robinson 5, M Phillips 4; G Jenkins 5, D Goodfield 4, G Powell 4, D Jones 6, S Morgan 6, B White 5, R Shellard 5, X Rush (capt) 6.