Robinson brothers run show for Cardiff

Cardiff Blues 43 Swansea-Neath Ospreys 6

The Cardiff Blues silenced even their loudest critics with a comprehensive whipping of the team who went into the weekend as leaders on the Celtic League points table.

The Blues winger Lee Abdul, who was not even in the coach, Dai Young's original squad, bagged four tries as the Arms Park side cut loose against the dreadful Ospreys.

The Robinson brothers, the stand-off Nick and centre Jamie, ran the game as the Blues hooker, Gareth Williams - strangely left out of the Welsh World Cup squad because of injury - beat Abdul to the man of the match award.

"This was a huge win for us," the former Wales captain Young said. "A lot of the things we've been trying to do and failing came together on the day." And the burly prop had a special word for his forwards, who have borne the brunt of the criticism in the past few weeks.

"Our pack doesn't get the credit it deserves," Young added. "But I think that might change after today.

"It's a great boost to beat the team that was on top of the table, but we have to keep our feet on the ground. We're not a finished article yet, and we need to keep improving."

The Ospreys coach, Lyn Jones, admitted his side were beaten up front, and things will not improve with the experienced hooker Barry Williams injured and the young prop Paul James replacing Duncan Jones in the World Cup squad.

"Cardiff were deserved winners - they did a job on us and beat us up front," Lyn Jones said. "I was surprised by how strong their set-piece was and I thought Nick Robinson was outstanding at fly-half today. We had our chances to score but turned them down, but we're keeping our heads up. We're not going to go away from playing entertaining rugby."

Cardiff: Tries Abdul 4, J Robinson 2; Conversions N Robinson 5; Penalty N Robinson. Swansea: Penalties Henson 2.

Cardiff: C Morgan (L Andrews, 67); N Walne, J Robinson, M Allen (L Andrews, 63-65), L Abdul; N Robinson, R Powell (A Moore, 68); J Yapp (K Fourie, 60), G Williams (A Lewis, 73), D Crompton, C Quinnell, A Moore (capt), R Appleyard, N Thomas, D Baugh.

Swansea-Neath: G Henson; E Seveali'l, J Storey, S Gibbs (capt), D Tiueti; S Connor (A Durston, 63), A Williams; P James (C Griffiths, 82), B Williams (C Wells, 6), A Millward, A Newman, L Tait (L Bateman, 82), J Bater, N Bonner-Evans, S Tandy (G Thomas, 62).

Referee: Olan Trevor (Irleand).