Following back to back Magners League wins against Ulster, the Blues now find themselves eight points clear of the Scarlets and just two points behind the Dragons in the race for Heineken Cup qualification for season 2010/11.
Following back to back Magners League wins against Ulster, the Blues now find themselves eight points clear of the Scarlets and just two points behind the Dragons in the race for Heineken Cup qualification for season 2010/11.
The Blues have a minimum of four games remaining this season, starting with the European challenge of Newcastle away, in the Amlin Cup, which if they can lift the trophy woud provide another route to Heineken Cup qualification.
The Magners League will remain key to Cardiff Blues however, as the big east versus west showdown at Parc y Scarlets could be crucial to determining whether the Scarlets or Blues get the final Heineken Cup place. The Blues follow that game up with a south east Wales derby at Rodney Parade. Two more league wins for the Blues could catapult them back into the frame of even pinching a Play off position, as other sides also face a daunting run-in.
The semi final round of European competition takes place on (1/2 May) the weekend before the final round of the regular Magners League campaign (7-9 May).
| Cardiff Blues | Scarlets | Dragons | Ospreys | Ulster | Glsgow | Edinburgh | Munster |
| Newcastle (a) | Toulon (a) | | Biarritz (a) | | | | Northampton (h) |
| | | | Ulster (a) | Ospreys (h) | | | |
| Scarlets (a) | Blues (h) | Edinburgh (a) | Leinster (a) | Glasgow (a) | Ulster (h) | Dragons (a) | Connacht (a) |
| Dragons (a) | Connacht (h) | Blues (h) | Munster (a) | Edinburgh (a) | Leinster (h) | Ulster (h) | Ospreys (h) |
| Munster (h) | Glasgow (h) | Ospreys (a) | Dragons (h) | Connacht (h) | Scarlets (a) | Leinster (a) | Blues (a) |
If there had been Magners League Play offs last season 50 points would not have been enough to qualify. However, this year anything from 43 to 45 points might be sufficient to finish in the top 4. Indeed with Leinster already one 46 points they realistically only need one more win to secure top spot as the league enters the new Play off climax.
Predicting the final positions is as ever a fine art, but with the league placings so tight, it will be a case of taking one game at a time.
Back to this weekend and the Amlin Challenge Cup Quarter Finals, which are:
SATURDAY 10 APRIL
13h00: Connacht Rugby (Amlin no.1 seed) v CS Bourgoin-Jallieu (Amlin no.5 seed)
21h00: RC Toulon (Amlin no2 seed) v Scarlets (Heineken no3 seed)
SUNDAY 11 APRIL
14h00: London Wasps (Amlin no3 seed) v Gloucester Rugby (Heineken no 2 seed)
15h00: Newcastle Falcons (Amlin no 4 seed) v Cardiff Blues (Heineken no 1 seed)
• All times are local
A new competition for the Blues this season, after the drama of the Round 6 win at The Stoop, the Blues were the top seed of the three teams that dropped out of the Heineken Cup following the pool stages, and were picked to play the fourth best Amlin group winner. Newcastle won five out of 6 pool stage matches, beating Albi, Montauban and Padova along the way, will provide a tough test on Sunday. There are four possible Semi Final scenarios, although as per the Participation Agreement, the winner of the Connacht-Bourgoin quarter-final will host the first semi-final regardless of other results.
1.1 Scenario A: Four Amlin Challenge Cup teams qualify for the semi-finals.
Step 1: A draw takes place between the three remaining quarter-final winners to determine which team hosts the second semi-final.
Step 2: The three remaining quarter-final winners are placed in a bowl.
Step 3: The team which will host the second semi-final is drawn.
Step 4: Draw to determine the two away semi-finalists.
Step 5: The first team drawn will play against the winner of the Connacht-Bourgoin quarter-final.
Step 6: The remaining team will play against the hosts of the second semi-final.
1.2 Scenario B: Two Heineken Cup teams and two Amlin Challenge Cup teams qualify for the semi-finals.
The other Amlin Challenge Cup team which qualifies will host the second semi-final again as per the Participation Agreement.
Step 1: The two remaining quarter-final winners are placed in a bowl.
Step 2: The first team drawn will play against the winner of Connacht-Bourgoin quarter-final.
Step 3: The remaining team will play against the hosts of the second semi-final.
1.3 Scenario C: Three Heineken Cup teams and one Amlin Challenge Cup team
Step 1: The three remaining quarter-final winners are placed in a bowl.
Step 2: The first team drawn will host the second semi-final.
Step 3: Draw to determine the two away semi-finalists.
Step 4: The first team drawn will play against the winner of the Connacht-Bourgoin quarter-final.
Step 5: The remaining team will play against the hosts of the second semi-final.
1.4 Scenario D: Three Amlin Challenge Cup teams and one Heineken Cup team
Step 1: One of the two Amlin Challenge Cup team which qualifies will host the second semi-final again as per the Participation Agreement. A draw now takes place between the two teams to determine which one hosts the second semi-final.
Step 2: Draw to determine the two away semi-finalists.
Step 3: The first team drawn will play against the winner of the Connacht-Bourgoin quarter-final.
Step 4: The remaining team will play against the hosts of the second semi-final.