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Cardiff and Gloucester reach Challenge Cup semis
By Christopher Devine
Cardiff Blues and Gloucester each recorded impressive wins on the road to reach the European Challenge Cup semi-finals on Saturday.
The Blues ran out 20-6 winners at Edinburgh, condemning the Scottish franchise to a second successive quarter-final defeat in the competition.
A Jaco van der Walt penalty put Edinburgh ahead after 19 minutes, but Cardiff were in control by half-time thanks to converted tries from Ellis Jenkins and Blaine Scully.
Although Van Der Walt briefly narrowed the hosts' deficit, there was to be no fightback and two Jarrod Evans penalties ensured the Blues, for whom Josh Navidi was outstanding, triumphed with a degree of comfort.
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Latest Comments
Agree with Wilson B- at best. And that is down to skilled individual players who know how to play the game - not a cohesive squad who know their roles and game plan. For those who claim that takes time to develop, the process is to keep the game plan simple at first and add layers as the squad gels and settles in to the new systems. Lack of progress against the rush D, lack of penetration and innovation in the mid-field, basic skill errors and loose forwards coming second in most big games all still evident in game 14 of the season. Hard to see significant measureable progress.
Go to commentsKeep telling yourself that. The time for a fresh broom is at the beginning - not some "balanced, incremental" (i.e. status quo) transition. All teams establish the way forward at the beginning. This coaching group lacked ideas and courage and the players showed it on the pitch. Backs are only average. Forwards are unbalanced and show good set piece but no domination in traditional AB open play. Unfortunately, Foster - Mark 2. You may be happy with those performances and have some belief in some "cunning plan" but I don't see any evidence of it. Rassie is miles ahead and increasing the gap.
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