Head Coach Matt Sherratt admitted it was a good time for his side to have some time off for the international break following their stunning comeback victory over Ulster.
The Blue and Blacks haven’t played since that night at the Arms Park in late October, in a game that will live long in the memory of many Cardiff supporters.
Sherratt believes the result allowed the team to end the first block on a high and with plenty of confidence, and it puts them in a good position in the BKT United Rugby Championship table heading into the next block of games.
“After the first six games you are ready for a break,” said Sherratt.
“We had 10 training with the national squad, obviously numbers are then a challenge.
“The first week we had off, at half time against Ulster, it would probably be a bad time for a break, but at full time, it was quite a good time for one.
“I heard Callum talk about it is a nasty feeling when you lose and then have five weeks because you can stew on it.
“Sean Edwards actually said to me if you lose your last game of a campaign you feel like you’re lying on a beach with a pebble under your towel.
“You can’t really get that annoying kind of scratch out of your head.
“At half-time it’s not a good time for a break but come 80 minutes it was quite nice to have a break just for that game.
“We don’t really look at league table hugely, but I think before that game, we thought it was a little bit of a crossroads where we want to be in the top half, kind of looking up rather than going down to 12th, 13th.
“You can see from the league table, I think we’re three points off third, but you’re also three or four points off 15th. It’s such a competitive league.”
Cardiff are back in action this Saturday at the Arms Park with a huge local derby against nearest rivals Dragons RFC.
Although the Blue and Blacks have had the best of the men from Gwent in recent times, the matches have been close and Sherratt believes their performances this season have been better than their results would suggest.
“I can’t remember the exact stat but I think it was something like nine of the last ten games have been a one-score game,” said Sherratt.
“If you look at their recent results I think they scored last minute to beat the Ospreys, Sharks scored in about the 85th minute to beat them, and the Lions was close, Connacht was a four-point game or a three-point game at 60 minutes, so they’re probably in a situation that we found ourselves in and they’re just trying to get that kind of the last five minutes or that last moment over the line.
“Added to a change of coach, we expect the very best of the Dragons. Emotionally, obviously it’s a derby, but there’s usually a little bit of a bounce with new coaches as well.”
Not all the players had time off during the international break with several selected to play for Wales during the Autumn Nations Series.
Although Wales had a disappointing campaign, Sherratt says that both he and the Club are proud of the players who were selected and believed they performed well for the national side.
“We always celebrate them coming back,” added Sherratt. “Regardless of the results, playing for Wales for any player or any coach is the pinnacle.
“It’s so easy to be negative about it, but the boys going into camp, Cam Winnett, Jim Botham, they work extremely hard every day and have shown some really good form in the URC to play for Wales.
“So it’s something that we always celebrate and then they came back in on Monday and we talked about how well that they’ve done.
“I thought Cam was outstanding against Fiji. Jim Botham stood up in both games and Ben Thomas, I felt, has stepped up to international level and showed some nice touches.
“In terms of our players in particular, I think they did have a few highlights.
“Obviously Teddy Williams, Evan Lloyd, are probably disappointed they didn’t get game time but from speaking to the people inside Welsh Camp they conducted themselves very well and did everything they can, which is all you can do.”
Winger Mason Grady has been ruled out of the derby with an ankle injury he sustained playing for Wales, and although Sherratt admits it’s a big loss, the Blue and Blacks have plenty of cover in that area.
“Mason has got a fracture in his ankle and will be out for a little bit of time, but it’s not a season ender.
“He’s got moments in him, and you don’t want to lose any player, but Mason’s got a 50 metre try in him. He’s a game-breaker.
“He’s a big loss but I’ve learned over the last couple of seasons that’s the nature of the game.
“It gives someone else an opportunity. Obviously Iwan Stephens has been going really well. Josh Adams is close to availability. We’ve got some decent cover.”
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