Blues edge Toulouse tie

Cardiff Blues edged a tight 9-6 victory against French powerhouse Toulouse to book their place in the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup.

Ben Blair's three penalties proved to be enough to win a punishing battle with the French side to earn the best win of their recent history for the Blues, as they dumped out the three-time European champions.

Blair's first two kicks were answered by Frederic Michalak and David Skrela, but his third just before the hour mark proved to be the difference between the two sides.

Attacking rugby was at a premium in an attritional encounter, as with the stakes so high both teams went for a safety-first approach, although Toulouse did get over the line once only for the try to be ruled out for a knock-on.

Nicky Robinson hit the post with a drop-goal and the Blues managed to hang on and blunt the normally ruthless Toulouse attack to avenge last year's quarter-final defeat against the French side.

Quick lead

The Blues went ahead after just 90 seconds, when Blair quashed any early Cardiff worries with a nerveless penalty 35 metres out.

Michalak responded with a penalty for Toulouse on five minuets as Cardiff were caught out trying to play expansive rugby deep inside their own half.

From then on the game tightened up and a scrappy midfield battle developed, with a kicking contest between the two sets of backs.

Leigh Halfpenny had a stab at a penalty from just on halfway but, although it had the legs the direction was just off as the ball floated wide of the posts.

Thierry Dustautoir did touch the ball down over the Cardiff line on 23 minutes, but after a video review a knock-on was called and no try was given.

Blair pushed his second penalty attempt wide of the uprights on the half-hour, but a minute later he responded by punishing Toulouse from a simple kick 45 metres out and bang in front of the posts.

Cagey

As the game continued to be a tight encounter in the second half, Michalak went for the drop-goal just eight minutes after the re-start, but his kick sailed wide of the target.

It did threaten to open up on 55 minutes as Maxime Madard led a counter attack from deep inside his own half, and then Tom James responded in kind with a fine run from deep for Cardiff.

The Blues eventually won a penalty 40 metres out that Blair converted with ease to put them 9-3 ahead, and they were within inches of extending their advantage when Robinson's drop-goal attempt struck the right-hand post.

Toulouse hit back on 64 minutes as they rolled towards the line, but Martyn Williams illegally got his hands on the ball to slow them down, and he was lucky to escape a yellow card.

The French side got the penalty in front of the posts and Skrela kicked it for 9-6, although the visitors would have fancied getting a try from that powerful attack.

Cardiff locked the game down afterwards, kicking as often as possible and tackling hard to avoid any Toulouse breakaways.

The French outfit forced a turnover two minutes from time and ran the ball at the Welsh side, but the defence held firm and a knock-on confirmed Cardiff's place in the semi-finals.