The Scarlets, Dragons and Ospreys had mixed results in the competition; losing, drawing and winning respectively. Following the weekend's EDF Energy Cup action, three Blues players were chosen in the BBC's Team of the Week including the best of Welsh and English players from the eight games.

Try scorer and EDF Energy Cup Man of the Match Xavier Rush was just edged out, although Gareth Thomas who scored two tries on his full Cardiff Blues debut in a fine all-round performance for the Blues, was included and capped his night with a man of the match award from bmibaby.

Paul Tito was also included in the team after his fine performance, as was Robin Sowden Taylor who produced some excellent scavenging work and ran his socks off.

Cardiff Blues Director of Coaching David Young said, "We played well in the first-half but just fell away a bit in the second. It was a physical game and there are a lot of players in the dressing room with bumps and bruises, but it is lovely to get a win and is a good start for us."

Sale coach Kingsley Jones was very impressed with Cardiff Blues, "Our defence struggled against a very powerful centre combination in Tom Shanklin and Gareth Thomas. Their two young wingers looked dangerous also and they scored some spectacular tries.

BBC Team of the Week: 15. Lee Byrne (Ospreys), 14. Lee Robinson (Bristol), 13. James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester) 12. Gareth Thomas (Cardiff Blues), 11. Shane Williams (Ospreys), 10. Charlie Hodgson (Sale Sharks), 9. Alan Dickens (Saracens), 1. David Flatman (Bath), 2. Rob Hawkins (Bath), 3. Rhys Thomas (Dragons), 4. Steve Borthwick (Bath), 5. Paul Tito (Cardiff Blues), 6. Tom Croft (Leicester), 7. Robin Sowden-Taylor (Cardiff Blues) 8. Andrew Blowers (Bristol)

Sharks' boss Philippe Saint-Andre reflected on the game and prospects of the group, "We were blitzed in the first half hour at Cardiff on Friday and were on the back foot for too long," "If Cardiff lose at Leicester this weekend our group in the EDF Energy Cup is wide open. That means we need to beat both Bath and Leicester to stand any chance of progressing to the semi-finals."