Cardiff Blues are better prepared than ever before for the Heineken Cup according to Dai Young.
The Blues have started the season well, with three victories from four domestic fixtures and go into their European campaign as the proud holders of the Amlin Challenge Cup.
That record is in stark contrast to last term when Young’s men started the season with three straight defeats.
Throw in the fact that, although Lions centre Jamie Roberts is a long-term absentee, the Blues have far more of their big-name players available than they did last year, and it’s easy to see why Young appears quietly confident.
“I think we are in a better position going into Europe than we were this time last year,” said Young.
“I would like to think our experiences over the last couple of years will help us.
“It’s definitely the strongest squad we’ve had and hopefully we will go into it now without any major injuries.
“You need a little bit of luck to win the Heineken Cup. At this moment in time we are looking pretty good on that score with one game to go.
“But there are no easy groups or games through this competition. It’s a real tough tournament.”
The Blues have been drawn alongside former winners Northampton Saints, French outfit Castres Olympique and Magners League compatriots Edinburgh in Pool 1 – a pool that is already a hard one to call.
And while the Blues will no doubt have been pleased to avoid the two groups of death in Pools 2 and 3, Young knows his men face a massive battle to make it through to the knockout stages.
“Edinburgh are a team that we always struggle against. We always find it difficult playing them and getting a result,” added Young of his side’s first round opponents.
“We’ve only won two out of seven against them over the last few seasons. So we know how difficult that’s going to be. We beat them in the first game of this season, but I thought the score flattered us to be honest with you.
“So we know how big the challenge is. You’ve got to win your home games, so this is a massive first game for us to get a result.
“I think the competition gets better and tougher every year. And it gets harder to qualify for the last eight every year.
“If you look back a couple of seasons ago, the target was always to win your home games and pick up one win away from home, but I don’t think that’s enough now.
“We did it last year – we won all our home games, won one away and got a bonus point in one of the others. There was only one game which we didn’t get anything out of and we still didn’t qualify.
“So you pretty much have to win five out of six games to go through.”
