Connacht slumped to their worst performance of the Magners League when overrun by a rampant Cardiff in Arms Park.
With nine tries, it was an embarrassment of riches for Cardiff, but a humiliation for Connacht. All the damage was done in the first half, but to Connacht's credit they did restrict the Blues to two tries - each at both ends of the half - to at least salvage some pride and ensure the Blues did not have things all their own way. There was also some consolation when Matt Williams' Ulster fell to the Opsreys 43-0.
Cardiff, intent on recovering from their 28 -20 loss to Munster, made scapegoats of Connacht to record their biggest Magners League win and inflict Connacht's biggest league loss. They bagged their bonus point by the 32nd minute, and still went on to record another three tries before the break in this complete whitewash.
Connacht's problems stemmed from their porous defence, and although they did enjoy some reasonable patches of play, the Blues' rampant start had Connacht on the back foot throughout. There were also some individual performances - from captain John Muldoon, John Hearty, Andy Dunne, and replacement Liam Bibo - but outside of that Connacht lacked cohesion for the second successive away match in Wales.
Cardiff had posted a fourth minute penalty and an opening minute try for an early 10 - 0 before Connacht had touched the ball in attack. The chief protagonist was young 21-years-old Jamie Roberts who carved space at will through the Connacht cover. From a quickly taken penalty, against the run of play, Roberts simply strode through the defence for the first of nine. Jason Spice had set the wheels in motion before Robinson found Roberts who burst through to score.
With the penalty count against Connacht mounting, outhalf Andy Dunne did have a 13th-minute chance to post something for Connacht. His effort from the 22 was poor, despite having contributed to their earlier passage of play which was one of Connacht's best of the day.
Cardiff's second try on 18 minutes was the perfect example of interplay between backs and forwards. Roberts, once again, started the move, and as Cardiff kept the ball alive with Jason Spice, Paul Tito, and Leigh Halfpenny contributing, outhalf Ceric Sweeney eventually touched down, adding the conversion for a 17 – 0 lead.
Connacht had no answer to Cardiff's offloading game, despite their efforts to play enterprising rugby. Lacking the precision which was punished at the breakdown regularly, Cardiff took advantage.
Halfpenny bagged the third try by the 29th minute, the grateful recipient of a long pass from Spice after Roberts had once again fended off a couple of tacklers, and just three minutes later the fullback took advantage of Connacht's poor defence out wide to grab the fourth and bonus point.
Connacht's cause was not helped by the sinbinning of Colm Rigney - albeit a harsh call - and Cardiff simply hammered home the advantage. Three more tries from Rhys Thomas, Gareth Thomas, and flanker Molitika followed in quick succession for a 46 - 0 half time lead.
It was all over by then. Sweeney and replacement Felise crossed for Cardiff at the start and finish as Connacht steadied the ship throughout the second 40 minutes. And they should have got in for a try, but Johnny O'Connor was denied on the line after some good work from Fionn Carr and Hearty.
Cardiff Blues: L Halfpenny, R Mustoe, J Robinson, J Roberts, G Thomas, C Sweeney, J Spice, J Yapp, TR Thomas, G Powell, D Jones, P Tito (C ), M Molitika, R Sowden Taylor, A Powell. Replacements, X Rush for Molitika, R Rees for Spice, RWilliams for Thomas 35, S Morgan for Powell 42, T Shanklin for J Robinson 46, N Robinson for Sweeney 53, T Felise for G Powell 57.
Connacht: F Carr; A Wynne, J Hearty, M Deane, M Roberts; A Dunne, F Murphy; J Lyne, A Flavin, R Morris; A Browne, M Swift; J Muldoon (C ), J O'Connor, C Rigney. Replacements: S Cronin for Flavin 46m, K Campbell for Murphy 50, R Loughney for Lyne 55, M McCarthy for Muldoon 56, L Bibo for Roberts 56.
Referee: C Damasco.
