Racing Metro 20 Cardiff Blues 26
Friday 11 November 9pm kick off Stade Yves Du Manoir

Cardiff Blues, wearing their new pink alternate kit, kicked off in the historic Stade Yves Du Manoir in their opening Heineken Cup match.

The Racing Metro side certainly looked physical and James Down took a nasty looking knock in the opening few minutes that saw him carried from the field on a stretcher with a fractured ankle, to be replaced by Paul Tito.

Racing were dominating the opening minutes with Germain converting a penalty and Hernandez slotting a drop goal soon after. However, Cuthbert and Thomas looked dangerous whenever the ball went wide and Tito came close to scoring in the right corner following good build up play in midfield. Racing were awarded a lineout from the move but from the ruck that formed Filise picked up and sprinted over to score. Parks converted.

The Blues however were dealt a further blow with Jamie Roberts leaving the field injured on 12 minutes and Germain slotting another penalty. Parks was equal to the task with a half way line effort moments later to restore the Blues lead.

The Blues were improving as the game went on with a nice move spreading the ball wide and Tom James again showing his pace and winning a line out 5 metres out. The Blues, however, failed to capitalise and Racing cleared.

Racing hit back with a well taken try by winger Juan Imhhoff brushing f three tacklers on the right to squeeze in on the right.

It was an entertaining match and the Blues players their part working the ball well through the backs following good chasing work by Tom James. The ball went right where Alex Cuthbert did well to squeeze in the corner for the second try. Converted by the touchline by Parks. It was a great end to the half by the Blues.

Half time Racing Metro 14 Cardiff Blues 17

The Blues started the second half at a lively pace, with Lloyd Williams threatening with a darting run into the Metro twenty-two but the Parisians managed to clear the danger.

Parks was unlucky when his drop goal effort hit the crossbar, but the faithful Blues fans had enjoyed a great day in Paris and were making themselves heard with their chants and some rousing rendition of Welsh songs. Parks slotted two penalties and Germain one to bring the score to 17-23 with twenty minutes left.

The Blues were putting real pressure on Racing Metro, playing in their half, chasing kicks and putting in big tackles. It was a great performance by the Welsh capital side playing in the right areas and gaining most of the territory.

Parks added a further penalty on 70 minutes to put the Blues two scores ahead, but from the restart Paterson and Warburton crossed to award Racing an easy penalty that Germain slotted.

It would be a tense finish, but the Blues were playing intelligent rugby, kicking into the Racing twenty-two and keeping them from the danger area. They clung on for a famous win and a great start to their Heineken campaign.

Cardiff Blues
Tries Filise x 1 Cuthbert x 1
Pen Parks x 4
Con Parks x 2
D/G

Racing Metro
Tries Imhoff x 1
Pen Germain x 3
Con
D/G Hernandez x 1

Yellow Card:
Attendance:

Cardiff Blues 15 Chris Czekaj 14 Alex Cuthbert 13 Casey Laulala (72off) 12 Jamie Roberts (12off) 11 Tom James 10 Dan Parks 9 Lloyd Williams

8 Xavier Rush (70off) 7 Sam Warburton 6 Michael Paterson 5 James Down (3off) 4 Bradley Davies 3 Taufa'ao Filise (72off) 2 T Rhys Thomas (c) 1 Gethin Jenkins

16 Marc Breeze 17 John Yapp 18 Scott Andrews (72on) 19 Paul Tito (3on) 20 Andries Pretorius (70off) 21 Richie Rees 22 Ceri Sweeney (72on) 23 Gavin Evans (12on)

Racing Metro 15 Gaetan Germain 14 Sireli Bob 13 Henry Chavancy 12 Fabrice Estabenez 11 Juan Imhoff 10 Juan Martin Hernandez 9 Loree Mathieu

8 Jacques Cronje (c) 7 Antoine Battut 6 Johnny Leo'o 5 Jone Qou Niliko 4 Karim Ghezal 3 Juan Pablo Orllandi 2 Banjamin Noirot 1 Andrea Lo cicero

16 Thomas Bianchin 17 Eddy Ben Arous 18 Johannes Coetzee 19 Lionel Nallet 20 Nicolas Durand 21 Jonathan Wisniewski 22 Virimi Vakatawa 23 Remi Vaquin