BLUES V CONNACHT // RABO DIRECT PRO 12

The wind and rain slashing at my window pane .Lightning's flashing, looks like the sky's gone insane And it seems like you have lied again And now I'm left with the wind and the rain  - The Wind and the Rain (1970)

A new season and a new pitch at the Arms Park. The artificial 4G pitch will prevent mud baths like we saw the Cardiff Blues play in last year while also, supposedly, making the game faster with the ball reaching backs such as Alex Cuthbert and Halfpenny with ease. But Friday night's game wasn't the best way to show the world exactly how quick the pitch can be with the relentless rain coating the ball with the layer of grease that even the most experienced player couldn't keep hold of.

Matthew Rees, former Scarlets captain, lead the Blues out for their first home game of the season and with the likes of Alex Cuthbert back in the starting XV and Mr. Consistency, Rhys Patchell, wearing the number ten shirt, it was the Blues who went in to the game as favourites. Although, despite the lack of international players in Connacht's side they more than made up with it with league experienced players with John Muldoon making his 200th appearance in the league.

Dan Parks, former Blues fly half, got the game off to a terrible start for Connacht as he sliced the kick off and sent it flying straight in to touch. A matter of mistake or was it that he wasn't used to the bounce of the ball on the new pitch? Probably the former. After Parks missed his first shot at goal fifty meters out, it was the Blues' Rhys Patchell's turn - the ball clipped the right hand post sending the ball back in to play and in to the travelling team's hands. With eleven minutes on the clock centre Robbie Henshaw broke through the Cardiff defence forcing the home team to make gaps in their line and with no pillars by the ruck, scrum half Kieran Marmion broke through and managed a beautiful offload that saw winger Matt Healy cross over the whitewash to put the visiting side up 0-7.

Connacht were incredibly undisciplined at the break down giving penalties away on a more than regular basis but luckily for them Patchell wasn't having the best start to his kicking game and missed his first two shots at goal before putting the Blues' first three points on the board on his third attempt. Connacht were purposefully putting a lot of pressure on the Blues' fly half throughout the game because they knew in a kicking game (which last night's game was) he was one of the only options the home side had thus Patchell did very well to keep calm and in control for the 80 minutes and he even managed to add few drop goals to his numerous penalty successes resulting in a final score tally of 21 points - he is the only player to score points for the Blues this season.

The first half lacked any sort of pattern and conviction with both sides spilling the ball not only due to its wetness but also because of miscommunication and confusion amongst players. There were some good phases being played with the Blues showing some great attacking play and with just over 50 minutes on the clock the Capital's team looked like they were certainly going to score with an overlap on the outside but the home side decided not to capitalise on the numbers they had on the outside and with a decent Connacht scramble defence the chance for 5 points was gone. The same story ran through the whole game for the blue outfit - decent build up of phases but no completion. A frustrating night for Phil Davies and the coaching staff no doubt.

With just over five minutes to go Connacht's Rodney Ah You was sent, possibly rather harshly, to the sin bin for not binding and with the TMO confirming a hight tackle by Connacht in the Blues' twenty-two Patchell soon put his team up 21-10 just before the whistle blew for full time.

Not a great game of rugby by any means with too many handling errors and missed try scoring opportunities on both sides but a win is a win for the Blues as they now set their sights on Italian side Zebre, who gave Munster a run for their money in Friday's first half, to the Arms Park as Connacht prepares to welcome fellow Irishmen Ulser to their home while they search for their second win of the season.