By Andrew Collins
August 29 2006

With the 06/07 campaign approaching, I look at how the Cardiff Blues will fare this year, and where our strengths and weaknesses lie.

Cardiff Blues; A tale of two teams

 

Crowned as Wales’ best team last term, the Cardiff Blues completed a superb turn around having been bottom place of the 4 regions a season previous, but was this just a temporary high, or can they maintain that form to take into the 06/07?

 

Dr Jekyll himself would be proud of the Cardiff Blues form, with performances varying from one extreme to the other. There is no clearer example than the Leeds games last year. A 41-13 win over the tykes put the Blues in good stead for Heineken Cup qualification, yet in the reverse fixture a disgraceful 48-3 loss. If Dai Young can get his star-studded side playing at their best week in week out, it could be a huge year, if not, it’s destined to be yet another season of underachieving fore the capital.

 

On paper, the squad looks very exciting. A massive summer clear out saw many ‘has-been’ stalwalds leave the club, as hope is put in a fresh wave of new faces from across the region. Lock Craig Quinnell is a prime example, his departure will undoubtedly leave a big dent in the Cardiff pack, but now huge prospect Bradley Davies is being drafted in, and already signs are promising.

 

The players brought in to replace the deadwood are all of a high standard, and in Ben Blair they now have a very reliable goal kicker, something missing from the Arms Park since Neil Jenkins’ days.

 

However, the real stumbling block for the side is the lack of any real depth. Though the squad is now a far higher standard than before, its numbers are far less. It’s meant many youngsters have been brought in though virtually untested at the level. Wayne Evens, Tom Reiley and Daffydd Hewitt will all be called upon this season, but whether they can step up remains to be seen, and will really determine how successful Young is this year.

 

The confident Welsh talents of Mike Phillips and Nicky Robinson hold the key to success for the Blues. Fit and on form, these two have the potential to beat some of Europe’s elite on their own. However Robinson is perhaps the most inconsistent performer in professional rugby, and goes from having the absolute perfect game to having a nightmare the week later.

 

If he can sort himself out and stay fit, the Blues can be a real threat in the Magners league, and should be pushing for top four, or even top spot. As for European objectives, you’d like to see 2 home wins, with a sell out for Munster and Leicester visit.

 

Young has the difficult job now of making his tiny squad excel and stay as injury free as possible. However he is also working with the best players he has had at his disposal during his time in charge.

 

It could either be a very good season for the Blues, with the development of numerous young talents, or it could all go disastrously wrong, and they could become the whipping boys of the league. If nothing else it will be interesting to see how the rejuvenated squad gets on and if regionalism is working with players making the step up from club to regional rugby.

 

Coach: Dai Young
Captain: Xavier Rush
Key men: Mike Phillips and Nick Robinson
Ones to watch: Mosese Luviatasau and Marc Stcherbina

In: Gary Powell (Glocester), Taufa’ao Filise (Bath), Ben Blair (Hurricanes), Scott Morgan (Leeds), Mosese Luveitasau, Wayne Evans (Acadamy), Duane Goodfeild (Acadamy)

Blues Development - Tom Reiley, Daffydd Hewitt, Bradley Davies, Scott Roberts, Darren Allinson

 

Blues Academy - Ross Johnson, Rhys Gill, Adam Powell, Dai Flannigan

 

Out: Dan Baugh (Retired), Dean Dewdney (Cardiff RFC - Now retired), Jonah Lomu (End of Contract), Ryan Powell (Worcester), Lee Thomas (Sale), Ben Evans (Sale), Craig Quinnell (retired), Craig Morgan (Bristol), Maama Molitika (Japan), Roger Warren (Contract Terminated), Martin Jones (Swansea RFC), James Malpas (Doncaster), Kort Schubert (Released), Matthew Nuthall (Pertempt Bees), Tristan Davies (Pertempt Bees), Nathan Llewellyn (Released)