Cardiff overpowered by Brive but secure home knockout match

Cardiff's place in the last 16 of the European Challenge Cup is safe but they ended their pool campaign with a comprehensive 37-24 defeat in Brive.

The Blue & Blacks will play at home in the next stage of this competition but director of rugby Dai Young will be concerned at the way they were outmuscled in south-west France.

Rhys Priestland kicked Cardiff into an early 3-0 lead but thereafter it was one-way traffic in the first-half.

Brive had threatened for the previous 10 minutes but they finally broke Cardiff's resistance when former Gloucester hooker Motu Matu'u powered over from short-range courtesy of a well-worked driving lineout.

The hosts were winning the collisions while impressive openside flanker Said Hireche dominating the breakdown. Whenever the French outfit spread the ball wide Cardiff looked vulnerable and an incisive break from Arthur Bonneval put the French club on the front foot.

They achieved quick ball and a well-timed pass from Argentina international Nicholas Sanchez put full-back Mathis Ferte over at the far left-hand corner. Brive extended their lead with a sumptuous kick behind the Cardiff defence from Sanchez allowing Kevin Fabien to score their third.

Sanchez was successful with the conversion meaning Cardiff turned around 17-3 behind at the interval. The Argentine drew first blood after the break with another three points but Cardiff weren't prepared to throw in the towel just yet.

Out of nowhere new Wales squad member Mason Grady put Cardiff on the front foot with a powerful carry. This was followed by Rhys Carrew charging onto the ball with the Wales prop executing a subtle offload to Teddy Williams.

Once the big lock was brought down the ball was spread wide for James Botham to score a try