By Andrew Collins
October 2 2005

Announcements, Transfers and a win over the English, it's been busy weekend if you're a Blue! ArmsPark.tk looks back over the last 3 days of rugby both on and of the feild, as Cardiff begin their revival back to the top of rugby's elite.

I'd like to take you back to May earler this year, the Blues began their warm-up to Calvisano with a match against a Cardiff/Glamorgan/Llanharren select, Cardiff had hit rock bottom. There was nothing but bad news being thrown around about the region that had won just one away match all season and ended up finishing 8th in the Celtic League.

Bob Norster released a press statement along with regional chairman Peter Thomas saying Cardiff were looking to sign 'World Class Players'. As fans we were forced to watch players names come-and-go about who or wont be joining, until one firm name was placed in the parchment, Xavier Rush.

It had been a long wait, but Xav had arrived, was fit, and named on the Blues bench to play Saracens in the newly-formed Powergen Cup.

With the weekend already shaping up, i sat at home playing FIFA with a freind when at 9.35pm, i recieve a text from a good friend simply saying...'Lomu?', little did i realise just how good my weekend was about to get.

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Team V Sarries
R. Williams; Czekaj, J. Robinson (Powell 75), L. Thomas (Nuthall 40), Morgan; N. Robinson, Phillips; Yapp, Goodfield (R. Johnsen 77), Evans (M. Jones 56), Quinnell (D. Jones 74), Sidoli, Molitika (Rush 53), Sowden-Taylor (M. Williams 74), A. Powell.

With injuries to fellow hookers Rhys Thomas and Gareth Williams, Dwaine Goodfeild made his debut the Cardiff Blues, while New-Zealand pair Xavier Rush and Martyn Williams began their seasons on the bench for the new-look Anglo-Welsh encounter.

Cardiff began strong, looking to spread the ball wide from scrum half Mike Phillips and with the ever impressive Nick Robinson always looking for half a yard, it was clear the intentions were to play good, attracive, Welsh rugby against the cross border outfit.

It almost worked early on as a great break from Robinson saw the fly half tackled 5 metres short following a long, windy run. A series of early attacks were stopped short by the Londoners as Cardiff looked to open the scoring, however it eventually came not from good build-up, but by quick thinking from Craig Morgan. Sarries looked to play their way out of the half, but some great reading by the winger allowed him to intercept a pass and run unchallenged to the line, to give Dai Young a little reminder the number 11 shirt wont be given up lightly.

10 minutes later and the crowd were given a real treat when turn over ball was collected by former Saracens lock Craig Quinnell. He went storming up the flank before popping up an exquisite one-handed spin-pass to Czekaj, who's perfect quick ball found Jamie Robinson, the center raced over from 50 meters to mark his first home match in over a year with a try.

Despite his try, fans at the match may have noticed Jamie's match fitness, sporting a taped up knee and ankle, he looked more like Dan Baugh than Tom Shanklin, and it was clear he was often struggling back to his feet follwing tackles. Hopefully this is more to do with his lack of game time rather than any major damage.

Nicky slotted both conversions, while his opposite number took his side off the mark with a 25th minute penalty taking the scores to 14-3.

Robinson was then the archietct for the Blues third as his light-footwork opened up a gap for captain Rhys Williams. Having reverted to his preferred role, the full back broke up the field drawing the last man and feeding Robin Sowden-Taylor to get a rare try which he obviously enjoyed. Robinson again converted.

The Blues defence relaxed a little and allowed a soft try from Sorrell, which Jackson converted, but a Robinson penalty gave the blues a well desrved half time lead.

Cardiff Blues 24 Saracens 10

Lee Thomas took a knock to the neck before the break and so the team was forced to re-shuffle. Matt Nuthall came on, who went to full back, and Rhys Williams went to centre next to Jamie Robinson. It's bad news for the Blues, who're already facing a centre and backs crisis, however see below for the more information about the new solution.

The outside halfs exchanged penalties before Craig Quinnell was binned for deliberate offside.

Xavier Rush made his Cardiff debut shortly after, the New Zealander, who transfered from Aukland, came on for the very impressive Mamma Molitika and looked keen to make his mark.

However Saracens got their 2nd as hooker Carnis was pushed over from a rolling maul. Their good work to get back into the match was undone as Sorrel and Iain Fullarton got binned for killing the ball.

Nicky Robinson got a penalty, try and conversion in the last 10 minutes as cardiff closed out the game. Great work by Mike Phillips opened up some space, he offloaded to the outside half who crosses betwen the posts taking his personal tally for the night to 22.

Final Score
Cardiff Blues 37 Saracens 20

The fourth try also meant the Blues picked up a vital bonus point. Meanwhile in the group, London Irish lost at home to the Wasps 26-30, picking up a losing bonus point, but neither side got 4 tries, leaving Cardiff top of the group for at least another week.

Ratings - x/10

R. Williams 8; Czekaj 6, J. Robinson 7 (Powell 75 6), L. Thomas 6 (Nuthall 40 6), Morgan 8; N. Robinson 9, Phillips 9; Yapp 8, Goodfield 8 (R. Johnsen 77), Evans 7 (M. Jones 56 6), Quinnell 6(D. Jones 74), Sidoli 6, Molitika 8 (Rush 53 7), Sowden-Taylor 9 (M. Williams 74 6), A. Powell 9.

ArmsPark.tk Man of the Match
Robin Sowden-Taylor - The whole back row unit were sensational, Martyn and Rush really will have to go some to break the trio up, Mamma, Robin and Andy have all looked fantastic over recent weeks and thourghly deserve to keep their place for Wasps on Friday. RST narrowly edged this weeks award from Powell and Nick Robinson mainly due to his well taken try, and how much it clearly meant to him. He's not the next Martyn Williams, he's the new one, and definately a Cardiff captain for the future.

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And so back to the transfer saga.

Congratulations and thanks are due to all of those who worked hard to secure the legends signature, its something all fans will  be looking to do at some point in the 7 months he's here!

He will be bring masses of talent to the side, and hopefully will rub off some of his magic on the youngsters such as Chris Czekaj. Then of course there's the comercial value of having such a superstar in the side. the benefits of this signing are massive, be it on and off the pitch.

It's going to be an exciting period until he arrives, and even better when he finnally gets out on the pitch. Games like Ospreys in the New Stadium suddenly seem to have twice the fiery concept then before, with Cardiff clearly making a major u-turn, things are on the up.

The classy rugby we saw yesterday needs to be repeated on a weekly basis, home and away if we're going to push for silverware or prestige in any of the 3 competitions. Transfers like this ensure that will and that the board are not afraid to slash the cash.

The board also confirmed that they've signed Leicster's utility back, Roger Warren. The Samoan international has 6 caps, and is the record point holder in one match for his nation with 26 points. A formidable kicker, Warren is an oustide half/full back/winger/centre, it's thought he's signed until the end of the season.

Warren's transfer was announced on saturday on the regions official website, and has definately gone through. However there are also  rumers coming out of Leicster that the Blues have signed fellow tiger, Steve Booth.

The English winger/fullback has, according to reports, been training with the region over the last 2 weeks, and has signed also until the end of the season. Booth was the Tigers top try scorer in the 01/002 season with 9 tries. He is an England A international.