Rugby
Thomas can't save Cardiff
2009-12-19 21:46
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Paris - Former Wales and British and Irish Lions skipper Gareth Thomas, who announced on Saturday that he was gay, was unable to save his Cardiff Blues side from Heineken Cup defeat.
Thomas, 35, came off the bench in the dying moments against former club Toulouse in France, but was powerless to prevent a 23-7 loss despite putting in a number of late runs.
Wales' most-capped player, who separated from his wife in 2006, revealed in a newspaper interview earlier on Saturday that he was homosexual.
"I've been through all sorts of emotions with this, tears, anger and absolute despair," he said.
Toulouse had lost the first game between the two sides 15-9 in Wales last weekend, but the three-time champions' win on Saturday allowed them to stay top of Pool Five and on course for a quarter-final spot.
French international flyhalf Frederic Michalak kicked 18 points with captain Thierry Dusautoir scoring his team's only try after 27 minutes.
Cardiff closed the gap to 8-7 three minutes later with a try from prop Taufa'ao Filise, but that was as close as the Welsh side got to their hosts.
"We are up against it but we are not dead and buried. We probably have to rely on others to do us favours," said Cardiff coach Dai Young, whose side are five points behind Toulouse in the group.
In Pool Six, defending champions Leinster and London Irish remain locked in a battle for supremacy.
England international back Delon Armitage made a try-scoring return from shoulder surgery as Irish handed Brive a fourth defeat in four games with a 34-13 win.
Leinster crushed Scarlets 39-7 with Rob Kearney (2), Gordon D'Arcy (2) and Shane Horgan all crossing.
In Pool Two, Biarritz defeated Newport-Gwent Dragons in Llanelli to make it four wins in four games and virtually ensure a last-eight place.
Scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili scored two tries, converted both and kicked three penalties.
Damien Traille added a drop-goal while Richard Fussell grabbed the home side's try in a game switched from Rodney Parade in Newport because of a frozen pitch.
"We are very pleased to win," said Yachvili. "We knew it would be difficult coming to Wales."
Ospreys salvaged Welsh pride with a bonus-point 45-19 win over Viadana to go top of Pool Three ahead of Leicester's clash with Clermont later on Saturday.
Tommy Bowe crossed twice as the Welsh region followed up their 62-7 win in Italy last week.
In Pool Four, three Chris Paterson penalties gave Edinburgh a 9-6 win over former champions Bath while the clash between the group's top two, Stade Francais and Ulster, was postponed because of a frozen pitch in Brussels.
The game will now be played in Paris on Sunday.
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