Cardiff Blues travel to Newcastle this weekend to face the Falcons in the quarter final of the Amlin Challenge Cup and Director of Rugby, David Young, is not underestimating the challenge that is ahead of them.
“I’m confident going into the game”, said Young.
“However, we know how difficult Newcastle are to play against, especially up there. Not many teams go there and play a lot of rugby. Matches at Kingston Park always end in tight scores.”
“They play a good kicking game and have got a strong driving line out and I imagine this is a game they will be relishing.”
With a route into next season’s Heineken Cup for the winners Young knows his side must put in a big performance against a stubborn Newcastle side.
“We want to win any competition we are in and would love to go all the way and win it. It’s an added bonus that there is Heineken Cup qualification at the end of it,” added Young.
“The intensity and tempo of the training this week has been good and the players are looking forward to it. Our focus has been on the Magners so it’s refreshing that we can now concentrate on a Cup competition.”
The match is not televised but there will be live updates on the Amlin Cup website http://www.ercrugby.com/live
Blues Team: 15 Ben Blair 14 Leigh Halfpenny 13 Casey Laulala 12 Jamie Roberts 11 Tom James 10 Ceri Sweeney 9 Richie Rees, 8 Xavier Rush 7 Martyn Williams 6 Maama Molitika 5 Deiniol Jones 4 Bradley Davies 3 Taufa’au Filise 2 T Rhys Thomas 1 Gethin Jenkins (c)
Replacements:16 Gareth Williams 17 John Yapp 18 Scott Andrews 19 Paul Tito 20 Darren Allinson 21 Dai Flanagan 22 Dafydd Hewitt
