Magners League: Blues v Munster
Venue: City Stadium, Cardiff Date: Friday, 25 March Kick-off: 1905 GMT
Coverage: Full coverage BBC Two Wales & online.
Blues coach Dai Young was capped 51 times for Wales |
Cardiff Blues boss Dai Young says his side must win at least five of their six remaining Magners League games to get into the play-offs.
But he is without injured Sam Warburton, Tom James, Rhys Thomas and Taufa’ao Felise when they take on league leaders Munster on Friday night.
Cardiff are fifth in the table two points behind Ulster.
“We’ve got six games left and I believe we’ve got to win at least five of them to get into the play-offs,” he said.
“It’s as tight as that – and we’ve only got two home games left.
“Every game we go into from now on is a must-win for us.
“So it doesn’t matter who we are playing, we’ve got to win these games – it’s in our hands.”
The Blues coach admits its a massive blow to lose the services of 22-year-old Warburton, with everything to play for in the final weeks of the season, but is confident veteran flanker Martyn Williams will step up in his place.
Williams, 35, who has just signed a one-year extension to his Blues contract, looks certain to regain the number seven jersey from the injured Warburton.
“These are massive games for us and obviously if players are carrying bumps and bruises then we won’t involve them,” said Young.
“Everyone knows the value Martyn brings to the squad both on and off the field, he’s been through thick and thin with us and has stuck with us through the dark days.”
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The side that wins the Magners League is going to be the side with the best squad, not particularly the best team Blues flanker Martyn Williams |
Williams is delighted to have signed a new deal with Cardiff Blues and plans on making his final year at the club before retirement a memorable one, helping the side get into the Magners League play-offs.
“It’s a tough ask but we’ve got ourselves in a decent place and we’ve got a game in hand,” said Williams, capped 98 times for Wales.
“We’ve got a lot of away games which perhaps isn’t ideal, but having Munster home straight after the Six Nations is a must-win game for us really,” added Williams, who was left out of Warren Gatland’s Wales squad in 2011.
“Its great to have the firepower we had coming back into the side, added to the boys that have been playing the last few weeks – fingers crossed we’ll be a good enough side to put in a performance against Munster.”
Williams is also not phased at taking the place of Warburton while he recovers from as knee injury sustained in Wales’ last Six Nations game against France.
“That’s how it is now, you cant rely on one player in each position anymore, you need a minimum of two players in each,” added Williams
“The side that wins this league is going to be the side with the best squad, not particularly the best team, and hopefully I can fill Sam’s boots and do him justice.”
Full coverage of Cardiff Blues v Munster, Scrum V on BBC Two Wales at 1900 GMT on Friday, 25 March.