Champions League Draw: Equivalent of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Man City

Cardiff coach admits Harlequins were too strong after a 54-15 rout. Harlequins coach praises Cardiff's performance.

Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt admitted that his team was simply outmatched by a dominant performance from Harlequins, who secured a 54-15 victory in front of a packed crowd at the Arms Park.

In the first 25 minutes of the match, the Welsh region held their own against their formidable opponents. However, once Harlequins elevated their level of play, Cardiff struggled to keep up, ultimately conceding the win to the London-based team. Harlequins now look set to advance to the knockout stages of the European Champions Cup, with a home game against Ulster on the horizon.

Throughout the match, Jack Walker, Will Evans, Andre Esterhuizen, Will Beard, Dillon Lewis, Fin Baxter, Tyrone Green, and Marcus Smith all scored for Harlequins, with Smith converting seven of the tries. Thomas Young managed to score two tries for Cardiff, and Tinus de Beer added a penalty and a conversion. Despite their efforts, Cardiff has only secured two points from their three games in Europe, with a challenging trip to Racing 92 ahead.

Sherratt acknowledged the tough competition faced by his team, stating, "Let's be fair, no one expected us to get very far in the competition when we drew the equivalent of Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Man City in our group." He also highlighted the impact of a crucial try just before half-time, which significantly affected the team's confidence.

Reflecting on the match, Sherratt recognized that Harlequins outperformed Cardiff in several key areas and emphasized the need for a long-term approach to building the team's foundation, acknowledging that there is no quick fix.

On the other side, Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson, who previously worked at Cardiff, made it clear that his team did not underestimate their opponents. Wilson praised Cardiff's recent form and acknowledged the danger they posed, particularly noting their effective use of an aerial game plan in the first half of the match.

Ultimately, Wilson highlighted Harlequins' ability to adapt to Cardiff's tactics, emphasizing their dominance in set pieces and their successful execution of their game plan to secure the win.