We all love a good derby. One of the biggest problems of the Magners League (leaving aside the organisation that couldn’t organise a piss up in the brewery) is the lack of away fans at a game – simple distances mean that teams don’t take many fans away with them.
But there are the derbies that give us something of what we remember back in the old club days, that give us the chance to pit ourselves against our rivals (even if they are in a new form). They give us bragging rights, away fans and far more interest.
Rather than wax lyrical about the subject myself let us take a look at what a few of the professionals that are part of this weekends Blues vs Dragons clash have to say.
Cardiff Forwards Coach Justin Burnell
“It’s a big game, it’s a derby match, everyone wants to win a derby match and we will be up for it and going all guns blazing.
“The scrum was an area of weakness out in Leinster and against the Dragons we will be looking to put it right and get a platform into our game. We are looking for our scrum to be a dominating factor.
“Against Glasgow they showed good innovation and showed that when the chips are down they had the fighting spirit. That’s something they had last year and they are looking to build on that so it should be an exciting game.
“Scott Morgan has made a big impression there, he has dominated the lineout for them and Robin (Sowden-Taylor) is proving how good a player he is.
“There will always be some points to prove, they will be trying to show us we shouldn’t have let them go and it adds some spice to the game.
“Morgan has made nice niche for himself in the Dragons in the set piece. He has dominated that for them and had some good praise for it, so obviously he will be someone we will be looking out for.
“He always gave 120% with us and has good friends here as well as the coaches but hopefully we will get the better of him.
Chris Czekaj
“Derby games are always a bit better and you get a few more nerves. It’s a huge game that we want to win and then there’s also the competition for international honours.
“Aled Brew is a very good player. I know him pretty well having played in the age groups with him. He is a strong runner and gets through a lot of work around the pitch.
“It’s unusual to play them in pre-season and to get them early in the year. We got the win last time and go in one up and they will want to change that when they come here.
“We both have our warm up games under our belts so it could be a completely different outcome this time round.”
Ceri Sweeney
“The Dragons played well on weekend. They were quite physical and I don’t think they ever looked like losing. Jason Tovey went off early which could have had a big influence on the game but Matthew (Jones) came on and really steered the ship and he went really well.
“Matthew’s a good boy, he’s been away in England for couple of years and the reports that came back from Worcester at the end of last season said he was playing well and he has taken his chance to come back home and is a good addition to the team down there.
“Aled Brew is their big player. He is a big ball carrier for them and when I have played with him, I always tried to bring him into the game as much as I could as he is a confidence player and when he makes a break early on he’s a handful throughout.
“I think upfront they pose big threat with the lineout. They have got Scott (Morgan) and Robin (Sowden-Taylor) and, coming here this weekend, they have got a point to prove.
“Scott organises the lineout well and you know what you get with Robin. He is tenacious, good in the tackle area and disruptive. They have threats all around the park but we have to concentrate on ourselves and, like on Saturday, when we get it right it goes well. It’s just about taking the small mistakes out of our game.
“You always want to show up against your former team and show them what they are missing and I am no different.”
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