Blair shines in Blues triumph

Blair shines in Blues triumph

18 Apr 2009

Ben Blair scored 25 points in the Cardiff Blues’ emphatic 50-12 victory over Gloucester in the European Challenge Cup final at Twickenham.

The New Zealander scored a brace and added six conversions and a penalty to go with tries from Leigh Halfpenny (2), Tom Shanklin, Ceri Sweeney and Tom James.

Gloucester were truly awful, managing just a converted try and penalty try. It was the Blues’ first ever European success, while Gloucester’s Twickenham curse continued. They’ve now lost on their last four visits to the historic ground.


6 Comments

  • 1.chch: Reply to this comment
    18 Apr 2009, 19:34 pm

    Another Cantabrian Dragon

  • 2.JL1: Reply to this comment
    18 Apr 2009, 19:49 pm

    The arrogant pomms still feel that their rugby is doing well

  • 3.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    19 Apr 2009, 07:03 am

    #2 JL1: Gloucester are 6th in the GP, it’s hardly the best team in England. If you want to see how Cardiff do against a decent English side watch the Heineken Cup semi v Leicester.

    #1 chch: Blair’s tries were walk-ins, this game was all about Martyn Williams and Leigh Halfpenny two potential Lions SA should be on the lookout for.

  • 4.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    19 Apr 2009, 07:04 am

    It was Williams who won motm

  • 5.Nils: Reply to this comment
    19 Apr 2009, 10:53 am

    #3 Big Hit: Last Heineken cup season Gloucester seemed very decent side, has something dramatically changed? (just curious as I have not too much insights about whatsgoingon in Guinnes Prem right now)

    I like Blair though, progressed since that horror night in Canberra Brumbies-Crusaders final in 2004 when Saders were 0-33 (5 tries) down after a half an hour or so and full-back Blair was leaking tries at will.

    Later they recovered but still lost 38-47.

  • 6.hawkes: Reply to this comment
    19 Apr 2009, 11:46 am

    Agree williams was superb and to my mind played himself into the lions no 7 shirt, i think he maybe the answer at 7 although wallace in also a strong contender. To beat the boks you have to win the battle of the loose forwards. The one team that has had a high success rate in south africa has been the Abs and this is usually due to winning the battle of the loose forwards. While burger, smith and spiers are powerful and great players they are not as quick to the ball as mccaw and rodney and it usually comes down to when mccaw plays in SA the blacks win and when he doesnt they struggle.

    I think it will be very a close series if the lions selectors get it right however winning in SA is one of the hardest tasks for any rugby team.

    ben blair gave the worst display i have seen by any player on field in the final in 2004 poor guy never recovered and left NZ rather quickly ( the fly kick he missed and they scored was brillent)

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