Corniel van Zyl insists it has been business as usual at Cardiff Rugby following the appointment of Matt Sherratt as Wales’ interim head coach.
Sherratt took the role on Tuesday and was unveiled to the media that afternoon, however the Cardiff head coach has led training throughout this week and will be in Galway tomorrow.
Following the BKT United Rugby Championship clash against Connacht, Sherratt will link up fully with Wales, missing only Leinster on St David’s Day.
Van Zyl and Gethin Jenkins will lead the Blue & Blacks during Sherratt’s temporary absence but he believes very little will change in the program, with the club already well equipped.
Van Zyl said: “Rugby changes quickly in a week, hey? The first thing that came up is the excitement of everybody at the club for him. When he told the player, you could just see they were really excited for him.
“It was basically he (Matt Sherratt) was in every day when we trained and he was involved in all the meetings and the preparation, so it’s basically this week same as always.
“On our days off he was busy with other stuff and in and around what we normally do, but I believe it’s same old, same old.
“Obviously from next week on when he’s not going to be here then we need to adjust a little bit, but I believe the systems and the processes are in place.
“It’s just about sharing the load now, going forward and just planning a little bit different with our team, but ultimately it’s one game he won’t be with us. I know it’s a few more weeks, but it’s just one game.
“If he’s sick for the one week, we have to do it anyway. It happened earlier in the season by chance, so it’s no big thing really.”
Cardiff take on Connacht just one game after they were edged out by the same opposition at the Arms Park and they will face the Irish outfit a third time at the beginning of April.
Van Zyl believes there is plenty Cardiff can take from the Arms Park encounter and can rise to the challenge at the Dexcom Stadium.
The Blue & Blacks are current fifth in the URC table, with a place in the play-offs now a realistic target despite a difficult second half to the season.
He added: “This time of the season, the Six Nations period is a bit of a disruption to all the teams. But it’s actually a big impact on where the standings are at the end of the season. So, it’s an important game, but ultimately all of them count.
“Luckily enough, we played them recently, which has been good, so we know them. We obviously got on the wrong side of the scoreboard that day, but I think it was a close enough game to look forward to that little bit of an edge coming Saturday night.
“His travel arrangement is a bit different to ours. He’ll probably come in Saturday morning and then early Sunday, where we are Friday to Sunday.
“Galway is always a nice place to go. I believe it’s a real test for anyone, any player with the conditions outside. But it’s the most rewarding place to play rugby and if you play well and get it done.
“Look, fight and enjoyment is one of two of our key principles and things we try and live by every day by day, not only when we potentially get limited by any external factors, but there’s obviously a lot of time to show that fight, especially in the weather conditions. I think that will be in place.”