By Andrew Collins
September 29 2006

As part of the sites constant updates, Rant! will be a regular column written by admin on whatevers annoying him Blues related lately.

This week - Foregin players and foregin media.

 

As Ben White looks to make his debut this week, along with him has come a trail of poison ink, leaked from the media’s ever-critical pen. With the team not performing badly enough to dish up dirt on them, local rags begin their assault at the foreign player ruling, which once again gets brought up along with a barrage of ‘regionalism’ bull, closely followed by calls for a return of the Celtic warriors.

 

We’ve been here before.

 

But are the Cardiff Blues really guilty of neglecting their youth? This weekend’s team shows names such as Chris Czekaj, Tom Reiley, Duane Goodfeild, James Goode and Dai Flannagan who are all recent arrivals from academy to pro contracts.

 

Surely these youngsters can only benefit from the expertise and experience that a player like Ben Blair, marc Stcherbina or Xavier Rush brings with them. But then nobody is really arguing that now are they.

 

The arguments rage over the lesser known players such as Luviatasau, Filise and White himself. These can be seen by many as ‘journeymen’, but at 27, 28 and 22 respectively, surely these guys are arriving too soon to pick up a pension.

 

White doesn’t qualify as a foreigner officially, as he holds a British passport. This means that 4 years from now, he could technically qualify as a Welshman, and turn out in a red shirt.

 

Though ‘regionalism’ (and I use the word lightly) was meant to stop this happening, you don’t have to look too far to see examples of players doing the same.

 

Grand Slammers Sonny Parker, Brent Cockbain and Hal Luscumbe were not bred in heaven so to speak, but eventually found their way to this great land of ours and wore the famous red jersey with passion. An even more recent example of this would be English-born Chris Horseman. So why the fuss over White?

 

At 22, he could be eligible to Wales by the age of 26, just in time for the 2011 rugby world cup. And even if he chooses not to, Cardiff proudly boast some of Wales’ best back rowers in Martyn Williams, Sowden-Taylor, Scott Morgan and Andy Powell. Plus with youth like Mark Lewis, Rhys Shellard and Aam Powell soon to be making the grade, Whites presence can only be a blessing for Young, giving competition for places as well as providing rotation.

 

Moving away from the White saga, ex-players have recently blasted head coach Dai Young for allowing Ben Blair the liberty of goal kicking over Nick Robinson. This is a statement which to me begs insanity. If you have a guy who can kick, why not use him. Blair has a formidable boot and an accurate attempt, Robinson on the other hand is inconsistent, and has on occasion cost us matches with inept kicking displays.

 

Again, Blair brings this kicking knowledge with him which can only be good for Robinson. Plus without the added pressure of goal kicking to his game, Robinson can be left with one less thing to put him off his all too varying performances.

 

But as a Cardiff fan you have to take this sort of biased, worthless drivel, as it comes with being the title of being‘city-slickers’ and of course, the best team in Wales. Why is it that the Dragons never came under criticism for having Percy Montgomery as their goal kicker when they had Ceri Sweeney, a young Welsh fly half waiting in the wings? Or the Scarlets last year when having USA international Mike Hercus (now with the Dragons coincidently) taking responsibility when Gareth Bowen needed the invaluable experience?

 

These things get brushed over by the media until of course Cardiff becomes the guilty party and all hell brakes loose.

 

But I’m sure this will all be forgotten when Cardiff lose next, and once again they’re the ‘failing region’. Isn’t it funny that Wales’ self proclaimed ‘dream team’ the Ospreys lost out in Connacht a few weeks back, and no one batters an eyelid, I seem to remember to being the worst day in the Blues short history when we fell victim in Galway 2 years ago. And how about their 40-point drubbing at the hands of Ulster last weekend, no mention of the gulf in clas betwen Wales and Ireland, just a quote on how The Osperys failed to turn up, no shame, just an off day...How come we nevr get off days?

 

The main point of this article was not to slate the other regions, as that would make me no better. I suppose my aim was to make sure you don’t all believe what you read in the papers. However I’m under no doubt I am preaching to the converted. The local ‘newspapers’ have a tendency to write gossip and grime in order to provoke a response. And as this long article proves, it works. Of course along with me will be the 2 or 3 letters from ex-Ponty fans ‘I’ll never support the Blues…Bring back the Warriors’ flooding into Thompson house, but I wanted to make sure my voice was heard by people who count.

 

I would love to hear your opinions on this as it’s something that winds me up constantly, but then I find others don’t even notice it, so please post your views below. If you think I’m being one-eyed, or if you think the rant was bang on the mark then let me know.

 

Also, if you would like to write your own 'Rant!', hen you can send me a word document as long or short as you like to ac_crfc@hotmail.com and i will try and post it up for you.