Cardiff Blues insisted that a positive approach had been key to them securing a crucial bonus-point victory over rivals the Scarlets.
Rush hails Blues' fighting spirit, Davies downbeat
Cardiff Blues insisted that a positive approach had been key to them securing a superb bonus-point victory over rivals the Scarlets which keeps alive their hopes of reaching the LV= Cup semi-finals.
The Blues fought back from 17-7 behind to record a memorable 38-23 triumph at Parc y Scarlets and are now waiting on Sunday's match between Harlequins and Gloucester to discover whether they will progress in the competition.
Blues number eight Xavier Rush said afterwards: "We knew we had to get the result and we needed the five points because we knew Harlequins are fielding a pretty strong side against Gloucester.
"They (Harlequins) need a few scores, so hopefully we have done enough with this win, but you never know in sport."
Of the performance, Rush added: "We knew we hadn't played in the first half. In fairness to the Scarlets they had put pressure on our set-piece and especially our lineout.
"When we got that sorted in the second half our game started to come. We haven't had much success down in Llanelli over the last six years or so and we highlighted in the week that we changed that a bit.
"And we knew we needed to get the four tries and the five points, and that's why we didn't take any shots at goal earlier."
Davies disappointed
Despite defeat the Scarlets could yet earn a place in the semi-finals themselves depending on the Harlequins-Gloucester result, but coach Nigel Davies was disappointed to see his side let their fate slip from their own grasp - especially having led 17-7 at half-time.
"We controlled the first half and I was pleased with the way we were playing, but we knew at half-time they were going to come at us," Davies declared. "That' exactly what they did and we tended to stand off them.
"I was always wary of a backlash because they were going for a bonus-point win.
"The team collapsed a bit which is a bit annoying especially because of the character the boys have shown this year.
"We are hugely disappointed with that result but we are not dead in the water just yet in terms of the competition.
"But we have let a golden opportunity slip away."
