Corniel Van Zyl has called on Cardiff Rugby to deliver a more disciplined performance when they travel to St Helen’s on Saturday for a Welsh derby against the Ospreys.

Cardiff head into the weekend determined to respond after allowing last weekend’s contest against the Sharks slip away, having fought their way into a position to win before losing control of the game.

The head coach acknowledged the encouraging spells in his side’s performance but stressed the importance of maintaining composure and applying pressure consistently across the full 80 minutes.

“It’s going to be a tough and nice and spicy derby,” Van Zyl said. “It’s something we look forward to. And obviously, we need to put a better performance out there than last week.”

Reflecting on recent performances, Van Zyl identified discipline as a key area for improvement, explaining how costly penalties have put Cardiff under unnecessary pressure against the Hollywoodbets Sharks and Northampton Saints.

“It’s very easy. Obviously, we look back to the tape and both games, and it was almost like losing our heads at a time and not focusing really on what we need to do and how every situation or moment unfolds,” he said.

“We’ve had a very good record on conceding penalties, which probably cost us in the Sharks and the Saints game. So that’s definitely one thing we spoke about the whole week: let’s back what we do, just stay in the system and think clearly.”

The physical challenge awaiting Cardiff at St Helen’s is unlikely to come as a surprise, with Van Zyl under no illusions regarding the Ospreys’ physical strength up front.

“It’s no secret that they’re going to go after us at scrum time, go after us at maul time,” he said. “So this is a test on how good we’re going to be in those specific two areas of the game.”

Beyond the set-piece, Cardiff will also need to compete effectively at the breakdown, where their ability to slow down Ospreys possession and secure quick ball of their own could prove significant.

Van Zyl acknowledged that the squad has fewer players available for selection, due to both international call-ups and injury concerns, but expressed confidence in the group named for the derby. He reiterated that every player selected has a responsibility to deliver for the team and the club.

“We always said from the start of the season that whoever is going to get the jersey, he’s got the responsibility to perform for the team and the club,” he said.