Posted by If there was ever going to be a fitting way for Cardiff Rugby to finish the 2023/24 season then it was with a late try to secure a battling losing bonus point in a tight game.
When Mason Grady crossed in the left-side corner, to actually secure two losing bonus point thanks to the score being the Blue & Blacks’ fourth time over the whitewash, it brought to an end a season that in many respects was long and arduous, but I think will mostly be remembered as fresh and exciting by the Arms Park faithful.
The build up to Judgement Day lacked any substance at all, even though the Ospreys were still in the play-off hunt. A dismal attendance; thanks in-part to a venue switch to Cardiff City Stadium, as well as the general malaise around Welsh Rugby at the moment, meant that a double header of Welsh derbies was not generating much interest.
However, for those who did tune in to the second game of the day they would have enjoyed a cracking encounter. A battle of contrasting styles as Ospreys were more direct and physical, hunting a bonus point win to sneak into the United Rugby Championship top eight, while Cardiff played with a freedom and fluency that no pressure allows.
It was the best attacking showing from the Blue & Blacks for some time to secure a second try bonus point in as many games, finishing with 60% of the possession, 22 defenders beaten, eight line breaks and four tries, despite losing Theo Cabango during the first half before Tinus De Beer trudged off not long after half-time.
The forwards carried well, Ellis Bevan kept the tempo high and challenged the short side regularly, before the backs opened up and moved the ball with accuracy into the wider channels where our neighbours to the west can be challenged.
Evan Lloyd had one of his best games for the club so far; accurate at the lineout and carrying effectively, Ben Donnell got through another mountain of work, and Rey Lee-Lo’s lines caused problems whether receiving the pass or used as a decoy, but it was Ben Thomas, dovetailing beautifully with De Beer, Willis Halaholo and Cam Winnett, who deserves the plaudits for a fine performance.
The Cymru call-up that followed was almost a formality after an 80 minutes where he caused Keiran Williams and Owen Watkin all sorts of problems with his footwork, handling and space manipulation, knitted attacking moves together with ease, kicked beautifully and supported line breaks brilliantly to finish with three try assists.
Unfortunately, as much as Cardiff played the better rugby on the day, rugby is still yet to awards points for style, and the Ospreys remain supreme at the nuts and bolts. Their scrum was dominant, their maul work particularly impressive in the second half, and their physicality in the red zone was too hard to contain for Matt Sherratt’s men.
Ultimately, despite dominating possession and territory, conceding 11 penalties was the killer on the day and allowed the “away” side to maintain a foothold at all times. If the Blue & Blacks want to kick on over the next few years that tight five is going to have to continue improving, otherwise the gap from nearly men to winning men will remain frustratingly big.
For now though their remains a lot to like about the performance in Leckwith, which reflects the season as a whole. Young players clearly developing at a rate of knots, playing an attractive band of attacking rugby, working hard in defence and improving on the technical side of the game, all the while enjoying a positive culture that permits them to express themselves.
If only it had been hosted at a sell-out Arms Park, what a day that would have been!
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Cardiff Rugby Life 