Nicky Robinson and Tom Shanklin joined Cardiff Blues to RE:LIVE the stunning 50-12 victory over Gloucester in the 2009 EDF Energy Cup final.
The Cardiff Blues legends looked back through the unforgettable win, providing an entertaining mix of humour and insightful tactical analysis.
The match was one of Robinson’s final games in a Cardiff Blues jersey, as he made a switch to Kingsholm that summer and he reflected on a special afternoon on a personal level.
Robinson said: “We’d played against them twice already that year, and I hadn’t signed by the any of the first two games. But at this one I knew I was going.
“But it didn’t really affect me in any way. I just wanted to win something as I hadn’t won anything in the eight years that I’d been at the club.
“I was desperate to get something.
“I remember that there was a really good atmosphere in the changing rooms beforehand and as we were getting out.
“At the end there was that relief, and we played really well. It’s nice to know that everyone contributed and played well, including the boys from the bench, and it’s a nice squad feeling.
“You play for moments like that and it was special to do it for the only team I’d played for, up to that point and I knew that I was leaving.
“You look at the balance of the young players coming through like Pence, TJ, Bradley, alongside experienced players and signings like Rushy, Fa’ao, Ben Blair and Tito. It was an amazing blend.”
Shanklin starred in the final, scoring one of his side’s seven tries, and would later be selected for the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, only to be ruled out by injury.
The centre emphasised the importance of non-Welsh qualified players such as Taufa’ao Filise, Ben Blair, Xavier Rush and Paul Tito and says his side were surprised by the manner of their victory.
The 70-times capped international said: “I think we were probably a little bit shocked at how easy it was and how many points we put on them, considering that this was the final. It’s not a pool game, it’s not a league game. This is two teams that have done very, very well to reach this stage and we didn’t expect to blow them away like this.
"We were also just really happy that we finally got some silverware.
“We didn’t have to rely on just one person either. It was a proper team effort and everyone played their part.
“It was a team that had played together for long periods, and we were comfortable together. We knew each other’s skillsets - what we could do and what we couldn’t.
“Everyone knew their roles and let’s not take away how good a captain Paul Tito was as well. He led by example and what he bought into the culture of the team.
“People say foreigners ruin the game, but you look at boys like Rush, Blair and Tito - they were great club men. You don’t lose them for autumn internationals and Six Nations. They’re around the squad constantly.
“They’re sociable and are great to have as leaders. They’re good for players to learn from and players like that are really invaluable for squads.
“They bring a winning mentality, and it rubs off on you.”
Join us again this Saturday at 7.00pm on Cardiff Blues’ Facebook page for the latest episode of RE:LIVE in the company of more Cardiff Blues greats.