By Paul Jones
Theo Cabango admitted it was the fulfilment of a dream when he announced his arrival as a tryscorer in top level rugby on Saturday.
The 19-year-old scored a stunning 50-metre try for Cardiff as their young, patched-up side went toe-to-toe with Harlequins before fading in the final quarter and losing 43-17 in their Heineken Champions Cup clash.
Cabango – younger brother of Swansea City and Wales defender Ben Cabango – scored a magnificent first-half effort, one of three scored by the visitors before the break, in a contest that was still level at 17-17 until the 58th minute.
English champions Quins then used the strength of their bench to take charge and pull away, but the response of Cardiff’s youngsters, including Cabango, in the past two weeks to their quarantine crisis has been impressive.
Against both Toulouse and Quins, the team has played with skill, invention and courage and suggested that bolder selection calls should now be repeated, even when the rest of the squad return from their isolation.
Let it be said, @Cardiff_Rugby have come to play! 🤩
Theo Cabango from inside his own half, finished with a magnificent step! 💫
What a showing we’re seeing here at The Stoop!#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/ei7RAAJpkw
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) December 18, 2021
“We’re not taking it so much as a loss, we’re just happy to build together as a team because we’ve quite an unfortunate situation,” said Cabango.
“We made the most of it, have come together as one and I’m just really proud of what we’ve done. For the supporters as well, who came down here, it’s amazing.
“It’s a dream come true just to be playing against the likes of Marcus Smith and last week Antoine Dupont. It’s mind-blowing – one week you are playing for Cardiff RFC and the next for Cardiff Rugby!
“It’s amazing and I think most of us took that opportunity. It just goes to show what we can do and prove that we are here for a reason.”
Cardiff captain Ellis Jenkins said: “Most of us make our debut in the Anglo-Welsh Cup or the LV=Cup against other academy boys, not against British Lions and English internationals so they showed up well.
“As for any youngster coming in, there are bits to work on but what a team to play against and they’ll be better for it.
“We knew it was going to be tough but it’s similar to last week, I can’t speak highly enough of the boys who stepped in.
“To be drawing at half time and right in the game until we were, was impressive. We knew it was going to be tough, we knew Harlequins in the second half are always impressive performers. We were bringing on less experienced boys but I thought everyone stood up.
Well done my boy ❤️🏉🙌👏👏👏 https://t.co/KpGiY7FPOI
— Alysia Borg-Cabango (@ACabango) December 18, 2021
“The coaches asked for bodies on the line from minute one to 80 and that’s what happened. The result is probably irrelevant for us and I can’t thank the boys enough in difficult circumstances.”
Cardiff were without over 30 front line players due to the need for the majority of their squad to quarantine in a hotel in London after returning from South Africa.
But a very young an inexperienced line-up did the club proud for the second weekend running as they pushed the Gallagher Premiership champions hard before running out of steam in the final quarter.
Tries from Danny Care, Marcus Smith, Alex Dombrandt (twice), Joe Marchant, and Andre Esterhuizen along with 13 points from Smith’s boot was enough to get Harlequins over the line.
Cameron Winnett, James Botham, and Cabango scored Cardiff’s tries, with Tomos Williams contributing two points from the kicking tee.
Caretaker Cardiff head coach Gruff Rees said: “Half-time, we were pretty vibrant and buoyed by the whole experience.
Nigel Walker’s try vs Swansea in 1997 next to Theo Cabango’s try vs Harlequins in 2021
cc: @RugbyPhilBB pic.twitter.com/hTtEXXeL1a
— Andrew Forde (@andrewfrugby) December 18, 2021
“First 15 minutes of the second half, I think we were on top but couldn’t capitalise. Then Harlequins put the squeeze on us a bit, forced some mistakes and we punched ourselves out a bit. That’s understandable.
“Development is often where talent meets opportunity. They’ve had the chance to show they’ve got a future in the game.
“But, even more so, I’ve just paid tribute to the senior boys in the huddle as they’ve created an environment where the young guys and semi-pros can come in and flourish.”
Harlequins’ former Cardiff Met No.8 Alex Dombrandt said: “In the first half I don’t think we were good enough but in the second half I was really proud of the boys’ efforts.
“Full credit to them [Cardiff]. They’re in a tricky situation as a club at the moment but I think their supporters and the club can be really proud of their efforts.
“We knew it was going to be tough. They’ve got some quality players, even with all the disruption they’ve had, and they were right there for 60 minutes, so we had to be on top of our game to get the result.”