Blair boot keeps Connacht on hop

High hopes of Connacht repeating their famous victory of 10 years ago in Cardiff Arms Park were dashed last night when the Blues claimed victory on home soil.

On that occasion in 2001, current Connacht coach Eric Elwood was the hero, kicking the two winning penalties on a miserable night, but this time it was Cardiff’s Ben Blair who took that mantle, kicking 17 of the home side’s 22 points on a perfect night for running rugby.

The home side had taken a slender 12-10 lead at the break, all through Blair’s boot, and then pushed on in the second half, forcing Connacht to defend before taking their try chance, despite a knock-on from Martyn Williams in the lead-up.