Dupont provides Toulouse with masterful direction in Cardiff
Cardiff produced a battling display despite their ravaged playing resources in going down to a 39-7 defeat against European champions Toulouse at the Arms Park. The Heineken Champions Cup pool clash took place against the backdrop of more than 30 Cardiff players and staff, including rugby director Dai Young, having to isolate until next week.
Cardiff had been due to play United Rugby Championship fixtures in South Africa last month and had already arrived there when it became a UK Government red-listed country as fresh travel restrictions were imposed following the discovery of a new coronavirus variant.
With such a large group isolating at a hotel near London on returning from South Africa, it meant a team comprising Wales internationals, who did not travel, semi-professionals and academy players being fielded against the European title-holders. Toulouse, though, were made to work every inch of the way for what was ultimately a bonus-point victory, although they did not secure a five-point maximum until 12 minutes from time.
Typically, it was Antoine Dupont, their newly crowned world player of the year, who provided them with masterful direction. He scored one try and set up scores for flanker Anthony Jelonch, centre Pita Ahki and wing Arthur Bonneval, with Joe Tekori also touching down, while Romain Ntamack kicked two penalties and four conversions.
Cardiff deserved considerable credit for even managing to fulfil the fixture amid such circumstances – and a crowd of just over 10,000 roared them on – with centre Josh Adams providing a highlight through his first-half try that Jason Tovey converted. But they also had full-back Jacob Beetham sent off, who departed after 74 minutes following a dangerous shoulder-led tackle.
The @Cardiff_Rugby 16th man ?#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/eathISEbOe
— Investec Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) December 11, 2021
Ntamack kicked Toulouse into a seventh-minute lead and although he doubled Toulouse’s advantage through another short-range strike nine minutes later, Cardiff could reflect on a solid opening. They enjoyed set-piece parity during the opening quarter, and also created an attacking opportunity when Beetham almost found wing Dan Fish. That promise bore fruition through a 20th-minute try when Cardiff gained an attacking scrum after Toulouse full-back Maxime Medard kicked the ball behind the dead-ball line.
A solid platform gave scrum-half Tomos Williams quality ball, and his pass to Wales international Adams saw him touch down between the posts, with Tovey converting. But it served only to stir Toulouse, and they responded rapidly as Dupont’s cross-field break saw him find Ntamack in support, and he delivered a scoring pass to Jelonch, before Ntamack’s conversion made it 13-7.
Cardiff continued to mix it well, yet they fell further behind on the stroke of half-time following more Dupont magic. His elusive, weaving running played havoc with Cardiff’s defence, and when the home side ran out of numbers, Ahki applied a ruthless finish, and another Ntamack conversion made it 20-7 at the interval.
Cardiff began the second period in assertive fashion, and skipper Ellis Jenkins was hauled down by two Toulouse tacklers just five metres from the line. Toulouse punished their hosts through a 57th-minute score for Dupont, who sprinted clear after a Cardiff lineout went astray, and Ntamack’s conversion opened a 20-point gap.
Dupont was at it again eight minutes later, this time kicking to the corner, with Bonneval taking a clean catch at pace, and Toulouse could reflect on a case of job done after Tekori’s try as Cardiff played the last six minutes a player down following Beetham’s dismissal.
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
36 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
36 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
36 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
36 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
36 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
36 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
36 Go to comments