Leinster Rugby vs Cardiff Rugby

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Brive claimed the first try of the game
after Ellis Jenkins was penalised for
collecting a deflected kick from an offside
position.
The hosts went to the corner and
displayed plenty of patience as their maul
creaked forward before Motu Matu’u
pivoted away to score.
They threatened on numerous occasions
before claiming a second try on 20
minutes. Again, it came from a penalty
kicked to the corner. On this occasion
they attempted a slick play off the top,
designed to put Arthur Bonneval away.
He was caught but the ball was spread
left and after holding the defence,
Sanchez lofted a deft offload over the
top to Mathis Ferte.
Cardiff had their own opportunities, and
at times, Brive appeared loose in defence
but mistakes continually thwarted the
visitors’ attempts.
Matters were made worse for the Blue
and Blacks when Brive claimed a third
try on the half-hour mark. They had
hammered at the Cardiff line for long
periods before Sanchez grubber to the
corner for Kevin Fabien.
On this occasion, Sanchez converted to
give his side a commanding 17-3 lead.
Cardiff battled to finish the half with a
score but were unable to snatch anything
and went into the break trailing by 14.
Whatever Young said at the interval did
the trick as Cardiff came flying out of the
blocks.
Sanchez was first to get on the
scoreboard but Cardiff then replied with
three unanswered tries.
Botham scored the first following a huge
carry from Rhys Carré and a sumptuous
offload out the back to maintain
momentum. Lopeti Timani also carried
hard before the flanker crashed over.
Priestland converted as his next action
was to launch a monstrous 50-22 to lay
the foundations for a second try in as
many minutes.
The pack rumbled towards the line and
just as it began to run out of steam, Tomos
Williams broke to the right and put his
half-back partner away.
Priestland converted and while Sanchez
responded with another penalty, Cardiff
soon took the lead.
Mason Grady, fresh from his inclusion
in Wales’ Six Nations squad, made an
impressive outside break combining
foot-work with power and he then fired a
miss-pass to Harries.
The wing had plenty left to do but he
powered over and Priestland added the
extras to give his side the lead.
Cardiff now had all the momentum but
mistakes crept back into the game and
Brive hit back through Bonneval and
Douglas.
Aled Summerhill thought he had scored
in the closing stages, only for the try to be
ruled out for a forward pass and Lloyd
Williams crossed in the final play but lost
the ball in contact, as Cardiff left France
frustrated and empty handed.
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