Head coach Matt Sherratt believes Cardiff’s game against Munster at the Arms Park on Friday night is one of the biggest of the season and will be a ‘cracking occasion.’
The Blue and Blacks enter the fixture on the back of a bonus point win against Ospreys on Judgement Day, which has moved them up to 6th place in the BKT United Rugby Championship table, with the top eight going through the knockouts.
“I don’t think there’s only getting away from it, it’s one of the biggest games of the season,” said Sherratt.
“It’s a game with a lot riding on it, in a league that’s incredibly tight and against a brilliant team full of internationals, with massive history.
“Hopefully if we get a good crowd here, I’m sure it’ll be a cracking occasion.”
It is Cardiff’s final home game of the campaign which only adds to the occasion according to Sherratt.
However, regardless of the result, he believes the club is going in the right direction both on and off the pitch.
“I think that always adds a little bit of extra emotion in terms of it’s the last time the fans get to see the players close up for a couple of months.
“Obviously it’s probably some players’ last game together as well. I think for every reason, top eight, being the last game and some boys last game is huge.
“But take it back as well, put the season into context, at the start of the year we talked about growth and regardless of what happens now, obviously we’re going to go hard to get in the top eight, but there’s been a fair bit growth this season.
“Regardless of what happens on the weekend, the players can take a lot of credit. We’ve turned four wins into seven, 52 tries this year, we have 50 last year.
“I think we’ve got eight try bonus points, so the club’s moved forward, certainly on the pitch, and obviously over the last couple of weeks, it’s edging forward off the pitch as well.
“All in all, it’s been good up to now and let’s hope it carries on for at least another four weeks.”
In order to defeat Munster, who are only a point behind the Blue and Blacks and in 7th place, Sherratt believed they must put in their most complete performance of the season.
“What we have to do first and foremost, and I’ve said this to the players, is Friday night has to be our best performance this season.
“Munster are a good team, and I think them being a point behind us in the table as well, has probably sharpened their senses a little bit in terms of having something to play for.
“I just feel if we go one game at a time, Friday’s got to be our most complete performance of the year.
“We’ve put 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 40 minutes together, a decent 40 minutes at the weekend, but it’s going to need to be genuinely an 80-minute performance from the whole squad this week to get anything out of the game.”
Sherratt is hoping the fans come out in force to get behind the team and recreate the ‘raucous’ atmosphere the Arms Park is renowned for in big games.
“I think probably the biggest game in my memory is when we beat Sale here,” added Sherratt.
“The fans came out, and it was a sad night in terms of Peter had passed away.
“As soon as our fans have got a cause which I think reading little bits and pieces I think that they’re really keen to get here on Friday after the last couple of weeks and get behind the players and then it can be one of the most authentic and loudest grounds in the UK.
“I know it’s not got a massive capacity but when it’s full and Cardiff are playing good rugby, which is the most important thing, I think it can be very raucous.”
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