Danny Wilson has praised his Cardiff Blues team for their old-fashioned wet weather know-how that has put them on course for European success.
The Blues head coach said it was his team’s tactical approach and shrewd play in tough conditions that enabled them to beat Bath 28-3 at the Arms Park on Saturday.
The result keeps the Blues on top of Pool Four in the Challenge Cup after three victories from three matches so far. Tries from Matthew Morgan, Alex Cuthbert and Scott Andrews in the second-half secured a comfortable victory.
Wilson said: “It’s obviously really pleasing. We showed a maturity in attack to play a patient kicking game and play off loose kicks that came back. Our length and accuracy of our kicking game allowed us some good counter attacking opportunities.
“We have been guilty in the past of playing too much of a running game but what you saw from the likes of Matthew Morgan, Steve Shingler and Lloyd Williams was an educated kicking game.
“We were patient, stayed in that kicking game and felt we had the distance with Shingler and that meant some of the kicks coming back were short and that’s where Matthew Morgan comes into the game from deep. We had the ambition to play off the right kind of ball and not force it.
“In those conditions you saw the likes of Sam Warburton and Josh Navidi forcing turnovers, forcing errors and we came alive off those errors.
“Sam Warburton’s turnover in the twenty-two led to us counter-attacking and scoring up the other end eventually.
“We felt our results in the last two weeks, especially at home to Ulster, was disappointing and we know how passionate and demanding this group of supporters are. It was important we rewarded them with a good performance which we did.”
Wilson also singled out Cuthbert for particular praise following a tenacious display which culminated in a crucial try.
He added: “I was really pleased to see the cheer when he came off the pitch, which showed the supporters appreciated his contribution.
“He had a really good game, he scored a good try – it was really hard work to finish that one off.
“One thing you get with Alex, week-in-week-out, game-in-game-out, whether for Wales of Cardiff Blues is a work rate that is through the roof. Sometimes that goes unnoticed but he really does work hard and some of his accuracy was better.”
