Phil Davies and Xav Rush

By Andrew Collins
November 2 2012

It was unbearable to watch. Like seeing your best friend get picked on in front of the whole class, without being able to stop it. It made you angry, disappointed, upset and overall just downright embarrassed…

Of course I’m talking about last weekend’s ‘match’ against Leinster.

And I fear it’s going to get worse before it gets better.

January 2006, Leeds Tykes 48 Cardiff Blues 3. That was the lowest-point. Dai Young faced calls to go from every corner, and there weren’t many who would have stuck with the former Lions prop after a frankly hideous start to the season.

But faith was shown, and time was given. Young set out a 4 year plan to transform the Blues from the laughing stock of Europe into a team worthy of trophies. That season they finished 4^th in the league and were Wales’ highest place team. The following two years, two consecutive 2^nd place league finishes showing that things were on the up. Then of course came 2009. The Blues famously destroyed Gloucester home, away and at a neutral venue as they won the EDF Cup in glorious style and took Leicester to a penalty shoot out for a place in the Heineken Cup Final. A year later, and the Blues became the first Welsh side ever to win a European Cup, lifting in Amlin Challenge trophy, again, in spectacular circumstances.

In three/four years, Dai Young turned that side around. No one was laughing at the Blues anymore. Young had fulfilled his promise and the faith the board and players showed in him was re-paid. He left the region as one of Europe’s top seed teams.

Ironically, the Leeds coach that day was Phil Davies.

But that’s the past. That’s a long way away now and, once again, we’re looming dangerously close to that lowest point.

I believe that the reaction Davies has received following the Leinster game is largely knee-jerk, given the Blues were away from home against Europe’s best team. I don’t think there’s a coach alive who could’ve masterminded a Blues win there. Admittedly, we were appalling, and it is very concerning to see us pulled apart with such ease, but people seem to be underestimating the magnitude of the task he faces.

Things look certain to get worse before they begin to improve. In the short term, our young, flimsy squad faces a massive test ahead of the Autumn Internationals given the number of key players who are leaving. Added to that is a lengthy injury list, which is inevitably going to be added to over the next few Wales games.

But perhaps more concerning is the long term. The Blues will face a huge battle to keep hold of the likes of Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert and Jamie Roberts -  young men who have had to become the senior players in this young squad already.

But Rome wasn’t built in a day, and Dai Young didn’t win two cups overnight. Phil Davies needs the support of the board, the players and the fans to get through a very difficult period in Cardiff rugby’s history. Give him time. You can’t judge a coach’s potential from 9 matches. Phil, Xav and the coaching team will have their own 3-4 year plan in place, and as fans – not customers – we have to show patience and faith. Getting through these tough times makes the good times all the sweeter.