The Blues host the star-studded French side at the Arms Park in the semi-finals on Saturday in their final home game of the season. Having famously won the title in Marseille in 2010, their eyes are very firmly on the main prize once again.
Welsh international front rowers Gethin Jenkins and Kristian Dacey are expected to be fit to return to the pack after missing the two match tour of South Africa. The six points they picked up against the Cheetahs and Southern Kings ensured they will be playing Champions Cup rugby once again next season after four years out of the tournament.
“We are in pretty good shape after our South African trip. We went there wanting to get the points we needed to qualify for next season’s Champions Cup and we did that. Now we have a massive opportunity to earn a big day
out in a European final,” said Blues head coach, Wilson.
“The pressure is off now and we can concentrate fully on the game against Pau. They are a good side with a number of star names – Conrad Smith, Steff Armitage, Benson Stanley, Ben Mowen, Colin Slade – but our form is right up there at the moment and we want to carry that on.
“To be able to go after a trophy this season is fantastic for this group of players and the Blues as a region. But we know how strong Pau are and we won’t get ahead of ourselves.
“These are the kind of rugby days and occasions that we all want to be a part of. A similar flying start to that which we enjoyed against the Kings last weekend would be a hell on Saturday because there will be a lot of nerves on both sides and it will be a great atmosphere.”
There are less than 1,000 tickets left for the game and the Blues are hoping for a complete sell-out for a game that kicks-off at 1.00pm
Cardiff Blues v Pau
Challenge Cup Semi-Final
Saturday, 21 April, Cardiff Arms Park
Referee: John Lacey (Ire)
AR 1: Andrew Brace (Ire)
AR 2: Frank Murphy (Ire)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ire)
Citing Commissioner: Paul Hull (Eng)
TV: Sky Sports / FR4 / beIN SPORTS
Match Notes
- The clubs have met twice before in the Challenge Cup during last season’s pool stage, with Cardiff Blues winning both games.
- Cardiff are in the semi-finals for the second time after 2009/10 when they qualified for the knockout stage via the Champions Cup before going on to lift the trophy.
- Pau have reached this stage for the third time. They progressed to the final from both previous appearances at this stage beating Bristol in 2000 and Brive over two legs in 2005.
- Pau are one of just two sides to win all their games this season along with Newcastle Falcons. This after having lost 13 in a row coming into the current campaign.
- Cardiff have won 10 of their 11 games against TOP 14 opposition in the Challenge Cup with their only defeat in that run coming against eventual champions Montpellier in 2015/16.
- Despite reaching the last four, Cardiff have averaged just 17 points per game this season; only Enisei-STM (15.2) have scored fewer points per match.
- Pau are one of just three clubs to maintain a success rate of 90+% at both the scrum and lineout this season, along with Lyon and Toulouse.
- The TOP 14 side also lead the way for carries this season, averaging 141 per game so far, more than any other team.
- No player has made more offloads this season than Malik Hamadache (12, level with Wandile Mjekevu of Toulouse), who is also yet to miss a tackle this season (24/24).
- Only Zebre Rugby Club’s Derick Minnie (13) has made more turnovers this season than Cardiff’s Josh Navidi, who has eight in his six games.
