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Anscombe eyes response against Ospreys

3rd October 2016


After scoring all his side's points in Cardiff Blues slender defeat to Leinster, Gareth Anscombe is determined to bounce back against the Ospreys.

The Wales fly-half contributed a converted try and a pair of penalties as the Blues slipped to their first Guinness PRO12 defeat of the season.

They remain in the Championship’s top four having recorded four wins from five but Anscombe was bitterly disappointed and is desperate for a response.

He said: “I’m a bit disappointed. We had our chances and coughed the ball up at crucial times which is bitterly disappointing.

“We had a good lead at half-time but had a poor 10 minutes after that and let them back in the game. 

“We will look back at this game on Monday and be kicking ourselves a bit, we did enough and really should have won against a good Leinster side but in saying that we’ve made some good progress in the last 12 months. 


“To lose at home is never nice but we have to take our medicine and improve for a derby next week. We’re still in a good place overall but are disappointed in the performance

“With the draw we had we really need to win that game now, to keep up with the title contenders.

“The Ospreys have had the edge over us in recent seasons, we went close at the Principality Stadium and feel we owe them one. We are quietly confident but we must improve and be better than against Leinster.” 

Anscombe received plenty of plaudits for his performance but he would take wins over personal accolades.

While happy to cross the whitewash, he was frustrated by other missed opportunities at BT Sport Arms Park.

He added: “It was nice to get on the scoresheet with a try but as a game tactician you always look at it as a side and we left a few tries out there so as 9s and 10s we have to look at that.

“Hopefully come Monday we can get back in, work hard and get a good result on Friday.”

Cardiff Blues are on the road in their next two encounters, first against the Ospreys and then Bristol in the European Challenge Cup.

They return to BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park against Pau on Friday, October 21 (19.15 kick-off). Tickets for the European Challenge Cup match and all fixtures in 2016 can be bought now by clicking here.